vm IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) // P /^ .A^k^ ^-^/ AV^. ,V*#^' ^ i.O I.I 1.25 la ■2.8 ^ m 2.5 lU IS£ U lAO II 2.2 2.0 1.4 ~ 6" V] %\^^y' A °m ^ f Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 i^ '^ CIKM/ICMH CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Collection de i Series. microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Note«/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliograph \ xV^t? L ' Y" j* 'ii ' V \ i ^ is^^ f -*: \: — 1 ::-^ — Vj*- ^--^ ^ 3 i— ^.^ V^ - ^-■S ^^^^^ ^^^^M -^ — -^^^^^ n ' ^^t^^^^ft -* , cv^ */" ip r J I \ I % 4 w -.pfl ^\" \N jF7 -TtssrmxL. ■ 4^,1 1 1 1 ... , ... 1 !! ' ii.ii.^^ "flf'-^vj' J< ' 1 -11:11 1 1 111 1 'il "Mf~—i ■" 'V^r^i^ilrF Liiilk Ifi ^ ZL < \ \' ■^ f*V ^X^ ct^ ^^^. \ :\ t* ---- - m f'mrt a. 4JL ^ f^ I s a G^ -.t^' /v y^ N N '•^^^^" / ^ ) ^A ^^\r--> ^^Ji^ \\\\\ y/A \\ \^ %% ^s^^x^ m^ ^p ^ ivvx .x^^ 1 / %;^: ix / .- / /- ■ 1 li Ir ill £ ' 1 tf! ! f •'ftr- " />t*^^ — T 1 : f .'t= 1 tr ^ it ,,,,.111 Sgi-f -rf./. T-»^^^ i*^ \''^ ^'^J. ZS4 -ft f, -- CHAIM* te. ^ =^^^^^ ■«*iMKiAflll«t.l| K*l.TM«n.MI*t UWTMU -■'I*-* « "«^ ,^-. . ...^'^J^rt r Vi \ ^t ■"^v ^'fe:^%. V "•ir ,»■ ¥ pari 0/ l/ie COLO R£CU)r^ <^ C/f/MD^ Me RIVER ST JOHN arid its iri^ulnzries \\ c REPORT * . ON THE I CANADIAN GOLD FIELDS, AND THK BEST MEANS OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. PRINTED BY ORDER OP THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. , :,':. :l QUEBEC: PRINTEfl FOR lilE CONTHACTORS BY GEORG£ E, DESBARATS 1865. Lbgislative Assembly, Thursday, 26th January, 1865. Resolved. — That a select committee be appointed to obtain information as to the extent and resources of the Canadian Grold Fields, and the best means of their development ; to equire into the working of the Act of last session, intituled : " An Act respecting Gold Mines " with the view of ascertaining whether it might not be amended so as to make it the means of increasing the revenue and affording at the same time, greater encouragement to the employment of Capital for the development and production of the Gold Fields ; also, to enquire into the granting of lands and claims within the Chaudi^re Grold Mining Division up to- this time ; and generally as to all matters whatsoever relating to the Gold Fields, with power to sent for persons and papers, and to report thereon ; to be composed of — Mt. Bell. Hon. Mr. Gait. Hon. Mr. McDougall. Hon. Mr. Macdonald, (Cornwall.) Hon. Mr. Langevin. Mr. Wright, (Ottawa County.) Mr. Irvine, Mr. Stirton. Mr. Pope, Mr. Ferguson, (Frontenac.) Mr. Taschereau. Mr. Kobitaille, Mr. Dorion (Drum. & Arth.) and Mr. Shanly. Attest, Wm. B. Lindsay, Clerk, L. A. Wednesday, 1st February, 1865. Ordered. — That the said Committee have leave to report from time to time. Thursday, 2nd February, 1865. Ordered. — That the return to an address dated 26th January, 1865, for copies of all reports made by C. L. de Bellefeuille, Inspector of Grold Mines, and of J. K. Gilman, also Inspector of Gold Mines, be referred to the said Committee. '•ly " Friday, 3rd February, 1865. Ordered.-^ThAi the quorum of the said committee be reduced to five Members. I i ' ■ ■ . VjT V.5. ^:J. iJ,# \J Jf^t •eiVf: itA^j^au . ,zmt REPORT. (1865.) The Select Committee appointed to obtain information as to the extent and reflources of the Canadian Gold Fields and the best means of their development — to enquire into the working of the Act of last Session, intituled : ** An Act respecting Gold Mines," with the view of ascertaining whether it might not be amended so as to make it the means of increasing the revenue and affording at the same time greater encouragement to the employment of capital for the development and production of the Grold Fields ; also to enquire into the granting of Lands and Claims within the Chaudidre and St. Francis Gold Mining Division up to this time, and generally as to all matters whatever relating to the Gold Fields and to report thereon, Sec, have considered the matters referred to them, and agreed to the following REPORT : Your Committee proceeded, without delay, to obtain the information required and to investigate the several points submitted in the order of reference. This being a new subject, which is now for the first time before a Committee, they expe- rienced embarrassments, and had to seek the information from various sources, as no large amount of it had ever been collected together in a practical form. It therefore became necessary to examine a large number of witnesses, consult professional reports, and glean the facts over a wide field of research. Forty witnesses were examined, but as it happened that in a number of instances the evidence given was in substance no more than repetition, of what had been more clearly made known by others, and in some cases hearsay, and not personal or professional know- ledge, — that portion has been altogether omitted in the Appendix. Your Committee directed enquiry to the following points embraced in the order of reference : lo. The extent, character, and resources of the Gold Fields. 2o. The granting of lands and licenses to parties intending to engage in gold mining. 3o. Regaiding the working of the " Grold Mining Act " of 1864, and in what way it could be amended. 4o. The best means of developing the Gold Fields ; and 5o. A general view of the subject. From the reports of the Geological Survey and the evidence adduced before your Committee, the Gold-bearing region would appear to embrace the area oconpied i S-I by the continuation in Canada of the hilly ranges known in Vermont as the Green Mountains. Of these the chain immediately hordering the valley of the St. Law- rence, commonly known as the Notre-Dame Range, forms the North- Western limit, and in the same direction it would appear, also, to be the limit of the auriferous area, inasmuch as no gold has as yet been found further to the North-West, or even on its North- Western slope, while on its Southern and South-Eastern declivities, and in the hilly and broken region intervening between it and the international boundary, the precious metal has been found very generally in various parts of the country. The area within Canada, which is in whole or in great part auriferous, may therefore be described as having its Western limit at the intersection of the range of hills just mentioned within the boundary line, while to the North-Eastward it extends to a distance not yet ascertained, perhaps to the peninsula of Gasp^ : at all events, ftoin the evidence, gold appears to have been discovered at the sources of the Eiver du Loup (en bos), and taking that point as the Eastern extremity of the Grold Fields, the auriferous region would have an area of some ten thousand square miles, forming a compatativdy narrow strip of 250 miles in length and of iii'egular width on the frontiers of the Province. ,,; . » m ,r: > ■ i . ^ s^ The Committee have no evidence upon which to base a positive assertion that gold is to be found in jmying quantities, except in the localities which have already proved so highly rfeMlimerative to th6 miners, but they have enough before them to shew that good indications are to be met with at certain intervals over the whole area^ and the similarity, of the rock formation throughout warrants the assumption that further explorations would lead to very important results, in the way of further discoveries. As regards the character and general appearance of the country, the evidence aedduoed refers principally to the Chaltdidre Gold Mining Divisioti, and it is described as a hilly region in many places, better adapted to mining than to agricultural operations. There are, however, as the evidence shews, considerable tracts of fertile land, and the soil in the valleys and fiats along the rivers is said to l>e remarkably rich. The two principal rivers which drain the auriferous region, are the Chaudidre and the St. Francis. The western tributaries of the one, and the eastern affluents of the' other, interlace in the hilly country near the Province line, but their waters ifivergfe widely in their course to the St. Lawrence, which they enter more than a htmt^red rriileS apart, the one in Lake St. Peter, the other a short distance above Qtiebec. Between these, and completely overlapped by them, two other streams of cottsidferable magnitude, the Nicolet and the Becancour, extend their tribli- taries in numerous branches through the auriferous district. To the east of the Chattdi^re, the Etchemin, a rapid stream of considerable volume, drains an important tract within the gold-bearing region, in which are comprised the townships of Buck- land and Standon, and portions of Framp'on, Cranbourne, Ware and Langevin. In the latter township, the Daaquam, a stream which flows to the St. John, has its source, and on that river gold is said to have been repeatedly found. Of the rivers iUrther to the east, your Committee have received but little evidence. The rivers already mentioned and their tribntaries are within the auriferous district, as shewn in the evidence now before the Committee, exceedingly rapid. Affording, as they do, an ample supply of water for hydraulic mining, or any purpose to Which water power can be applied, they are, nevertheless, neither navigable in the ordinary sense of that terra, nor susceptible of being made so. Saw logs, it would appear, can, in some instances, be taken down during the height of the spring freshets, but it would be an extreme stretch of terms to call them either floatable or navigable, which at ordinary stages of the water, they do not appeajr from the evi- dence to be, even for saw logs. As this relates to a point to be presently noticed, yotrt Committee w^ald in the mea&time only invite attention to the l&cts as obtained ia eridenoe, and above set forth. % # 1 the Green e St. Law- stern limit, ferous area, even on its ties, and in 1 boundary, jountry. ferous, may Lhe range of •d it extends t all events, )f the Riveif Gk)ld Fields, lies, forming j-icWi on the ion thfat gold idy proved so to shew that treaj and the that further r discoveries. ;he evidence s described as al operations, tile land, and rich. e Chaudi^re [n affluents of their waters more than a [stance above ither streams their tribu- east of the n important ps of Buck- ngevin. In John, has its If the rivers \he auriferous iingly rapid. I any purpose dgcAle in the l)gs, it would [ing freshets, [floatable or from the evi- ftly noticed, I as obtained As regards the capabilities and character of the country in an agricuUuntl point of viow, the evidence would appear, at first sight, to be somewhat conflicting. This, however, arises from the witnesses describing different sections of country , and com- bining the whole of the evidence, the Committee feel warranted in saying, that the areas already settled are, in general, highly productive, while a considemble extent of country as yet under forest, is susceptible of being brought under cultivation. In order, however, to the rapid development of the country, both in nn agricultural and mineral [)oint of view, it appears to your Committee that the opening up of leading highways is an essential condition. The road which would open the largest extent of country, both agricultural and mineral, at the smallest comparative outlay, would, as your Committee conceive, be a line from the confluence of the Rivers du Loup and Chaudi^re, along the banlu of the latter river to Lake Megautic. This line would open a highly important section of country in the immediate valley of the Chaudidre, where the land, as shewn by the evidence, is of a fair quality and fit for cultivation. Your Committee would therefore have no hesitation in recommending a work of such importance to &,vor- able consideration. , .;, < ; > - ■", Such works soon repay themselves iu the stimulus which they give to settlement, and the facilities which they afford to mining and other industrial occupations. In regard to the extent to which gold has been mined or discovered, your Com- mittee have obtained very valuable and reliable evidence. The gold mining inspector. Major de Bellefeuille, states the whole quantity of gold produced during the past season, in the Chaudi^re Gold Mining Division, to be $116,000, and this, considering the comparatively small number of hands employed, must be regarded as a very handsome return, the average throughout the season being no less than four dollars per day per man. The gold mining inspector's report, however, cannot be taken as representing the total quantity, as it comes only to the 30th of I November, since which period mining operations have been constantly carried on, ': and with highly satisfactory results, on the Gilbert. The greater portion of the gold { so far obtained, has been taken from a small area on the Gilbert River, a few miles I from its mouth, in the parish of St. Francis. It appears, moreover, that considerable I quantities of gold were obtained in various parts of the country, of which he was furnished with no return. Thus, for example, on the Stafford Brook, the evidence ■ shews that $2,000 were obtained, while his return only shews $300. In like manner, on the Metgermette, it appears that the men employed were realizing at one period from four to twelve dollars to the hand per day, and it does not appear that this is included in the gross amount returned as being obtained inthe district. In regard to the winter operations carried on on the Gilbert, the evidence of the miners is highly important inasmuch as it was to some extent against their interest to give it. They have found hill tunnelling beneath the snow iu winter as profitable as alluvial washing in summer. William Abbott's evidence is very clear on this head, and it is supported by that of John McCrae, John Brack, Joseph Rigg and , Andrew Lale. i With regard to the general richness cf the Gilbert diggings, the evidence of these witnesses is conclusive. William Abbott took from one claim only 60 feet in front, ^$1,750 in gold during the early part of the summer, and in the month of August, he Hook from another claim of only 25 feet frontage, $595 00. He had seen or found nuggets worth from $79 up to $300. 2 John McCrae exhibited a nugget weighing 12oz. 14 dwts. besides a quantity of ^^gohiin rough nuggets, amounting to many ounces in weight. According to his ^{evidence he found winter tunnelling as successful as his summer operations. . j Andrew Dale (fives evidence much to the same effect in respect to winter mining. He also speaks of quartz from the Gilbert having yielded on assay $95 to the ton. In regard to the onemtious of last summer generally, excepting on a few streams to bo noticed presently in one particular section of the country, there has been nothing done which can properly be called mining. " Prospecting," has, however, been carried on over a wide area, and it has led to the discovery of alluvial gold on every considerable tributary of the Chaudiere and Riviere du Loup, between St. Francis and the Province Line. On all of these it has not been found in paying quantities ; but the appearances have been such, as almost in every instance, to warrant the belief that further oi>era- tions on a more extended scale would lead to highly important results. Among the rivers on which alluvial gold has been found in remunerative qiiantities may be mentioned the Gilbert now so well known, the Famine, the Du Loup, the Stafford Brook and the Metgermette. While fair ** prospects " have l>een obtamed on the affluents of the Etchemin in Buckland, Standon, Ware and Cran- bourne. On the Chaudiere and the Du Loup, the Portage river and the Oliva, as well as on the upper Du Loup, prospecting has revealed the presence of alluvial gold. The Samp.son and the Is'ibnellis, the former running through Risborough and the upper Eart of Marlow, and the latter draining the greater part of the township of Spalding ave been examined and found to be auriferous. The Drolet brook and the Eugenie, in the township of Gayhurst, according to the evidence of Messrs. Lindsay and Patry, have also afforded gold, while many of the witnesses speak favourably of the Grande Coud6e in Dorset, and Trout Brook in the township of Jersey. It is not however alone in the discovery of alluvial gold over such an extended area that the explorations of last summer appear to your Commitee to have had their greatest significance, but in demonstrating the auriferous character of the quartz veins throughout the entire region. Assays have been made of specimens taken from veins in different parts of the country, and altho' the returns do not appear to have been very great, they are nevertheless of value in establishing the fact that gold exists generally in the quartz. The specimens, it will be observed on reference to the evidence, more especially the assays arranged in tabular form by Mr. Dawson, were from the surface or near it. And the opinion has been expressed by scientific men, and it is very clearly set forth in the evidence of Mr. Greacen that a certain depth must be attained before gold can be looked for in any considerable quantity in the quartz. Your Committee, desirous of obtaining such evidence as would admit of a com- parison being made with the Gold Fields of California and Australia, examined several witnesses who had been long engaged in mining operations in those countries; and the result warrants the Committee in expressing the opinion that the Canadian Gold Fiekls exhibit at least as fair indications as were in the first instance observable either in California or Australia, while in certain cases the actual average amount of gold obtained to the hand per day quite equals the returns in those countries except of course in the cases of extraordinarily rich strikes. The witnesses principally examined on this head were Messrs. Sinjohn, Anderson, Smith, John Kelly and O. A. Russell. Gold mining in Canada is, however, but in its infancy, and its gold fields are not yet in a position to admit of a fair comparison with those of other regions where all the appliances which art and experience can bring to bear have long been in opera- tion, still, as appears from the reports of Sir William Logan, (see his work of 1863, I i to winter say $95 to 3W streams has been i, however, ial gold on etween St. appearances rther oi^n.- munerative ine, the Du have been e and Cran- liva, as well luvial gold, id the upper of Spalding ok and the srs. Lindsay avourably of f- Ein extended ve had their quartz veins 1 from veins 3 have been gold exists re especially ;e or near it. rly set forth ore gold can t of a corn- examined le countries ; Canadian observable e amount of tries except le n, Anderson, ields are not 8 where all n in opera- ork of 1863, *ff pages 739 to 745) the auriferous drift of the Chaudi^re is far richer than that which in California, affords ample returns to Hydraulic mining. This is a branch of indus- try to which the Gold Fields of Canada, afford peculiar advantages in the water jK)wer which is every where to be met with. Sir William Logiin nfler describing in detail the Hydraulic mode of mining adopted in California remarks ns follows : " In order to judge of the applicability of this method of washing to our own auriferous deposits, a simple calculation based upon the experiments upon the Kivi6re du Loup will be of use. It has been shown that the washing of the ground over an area of one acre with an average depth of two feet, equal to 87,120 cubic feet gave in round numbers about 5,000 pennyweights of gold, or one and thirty- eight hundredths grains to the cubic foot ; which is equal to one'and three quarters grains of gold to the bushel. Now, according to Mr. Blake, earth containing one ^ forty-fourik part of this amount, or one twenty-fifth of a grain of gold can be pro- fitably washed by the hydraulic method ; while the labour of two men, with a proper jet of water suffices to wash one thousand bushels in a day ; which in a defiosit like that of the Rivi6re du Loup would contain about seventy-three penny^ weights of frold. It is probable, however, that a certain portion of the finer gold du8t which is collected in the ordinary process, would be lost in working on a larger scale. It has already been shown that the gold in Canada is not confined to the gravel of the River Channels und the alluvial flats ; but it is Ibund on the Metgertnette and St. Francis Rivers at from fifty to a hundred and fifty feet above their beds ; and although its proportion Avere to be many times less than in the Riviere du Loup, these thick deposits whicl.. extend over great areas might be profitably worked by the hydraulic method. The fall in most of the tributaries of the Chaudirtions of the evidence .that the changes have been not only frequent, but of such a nature, &i>d so irregular as to cause some surprise. In all cases of this kind, permanence is of the first imp*>rtance, not only to create confidence on the part of capitalists who might embark in enterprises such as gold mining, but also on the part of the miners who are personally inte- rested in the results of their labour. They must be vf^ry injuriously aflfected by irequent changes of this kind. At the same. time it should be lK>rae in mind that this subject is new in this country, a;id that those to whom was entrusted thejdutr of framing regulations, and of carrying them out, were placed in a new and unknown field of duty. A:s experience is afibrded, it if hoped .Jthat jdifficulties of this kind will disappear. ^. ,^ ,, ,.^ .,.,,,j,,„j ).,,:• ,...;;.J o;nviV' -.^-<::.:t .i' I'j Il is not surprising tlint the sales of land in that region have been within the last two yenrs very considerahle. Prior to that |)criod the country hiid been almost unknown boyond its own neighlwurhood. The discovery of gold, in quantity snfHcient to make mining operations lucrative, will speedily change its condition, ai. >rill ofler inducements for further purchases. In other countries great changes have oeen induced from similar causes, and it is not unreasonable to expect that the result here will be much the same us it has been elsewhere witth reference to land granting as well as increase of population and commerco. As regards the working of the Gold Mining Act of 186i, so little has been done under its provisions that it might be almost said that it has not yet been iiiirly tested. Your Committee would respectfully submit however that the charges exacted — the rates named in the Act — for mining licenses are deserving of careful and further consideration. The evidence on this point shews, that in other countries changes have commonly been made from high rates to much lower ones, with beneficial results. The imposition of one dollar per month for a " Private Lands' Gold License," and two dollars per month for n " Crown Lands' Grold License " is in each case higher than the miner is well able to pay. In consequence, it is believed that fewer claims will be let, so much fewer that the revenue from this source will not be so large as a lower rate would aitbrd by reason of the greater number of licenses that would be issued and claims worked under the lower rate. The actual immediate receipts are imjjurtant, but the result of successful mining is of greater importance, and should be duly considered. Rates hhou'd not be made so high as to check imf)ortant ulti- mate results. It cannot be disputed that if the number of licenses and claims worked were only doubled, that thereby a much greater profit would be derived to the country than the mere amount obtained for the licences ; and tho' it may appear unreasonable to sup}x>se that so small a matter as the reduction of the licence fee> by only a few dollars per annum, would to any great extent, increase the number of licenses sought for, and increase the ninnber of men who would employ themselves in tho gold diggings, yet experience shews that such is the case, and that the effect of high rates is injurious to successful development. It may be assumed that our Canadian Gold Fields possess sufficient value, and are of sufficient importance to the country to warrant the adoption of a liberal policy in relation to them, with the view of realizing the greatest profit. Comi)laint is made that miners cannot leave their work once a month, as now required, to go to the Insj)ecl(.»r to renew licenses with- out lois and inconvenience. Your Committee respectfully recommend that the rates named in the Gold Mining Act be reduced, that the license should be granted for the mining season, and that the license shall be for a definite fixed place. And they also recommend that correct monthly returns of the product of the mines be obtained by the Inspectors. As regards the size of claims, both alluvial and quartz there is much difference of opinion amongst practical men, who have had experience in gold mining ; but all prefer a larger extent, thnu that diseribod in the gold mining Act. It is worthy of note that of the witnesssos, those who had seen the most of mining life, attached especial importance to an efficient police. From the result of this winter's experience, it may be expected, that hereafter mining operations will be continued throughout the year; all witnesses agree as to the necessity of the inspector being at the mines, the whole year round. As the Gold Mining Act provides for effecting the changes above recommended in the working of the Act your Committee are not prepared to recommend any change or amendment in the Act. As regards the best means of developing the resources of the immense regions embraced in the general designation of the " Gold Fields," it must be apparent that to the first point which claims atteution is the land policy ndopted by the government. TJpon this, of necessity, a great deal must depend at the beginning, after a number of J ears have passed over, and the lands have been niuHtly alienated, this influence will B less felt, out fur many years yet to come, the p;overnnicnt land policy must jj^reatly affect the progress of the Chaudidre and St. Francis Divisions, and according as that Colicy is liberal or illiberal, well considered or ill considered, so will its influence be eneficial or otherwise. Nothing could be more ill-judged or prejudicial to the best interest of the country, than the practice of making a distinction as to price between mining and tigricultural lands. In the case of the latter the purchaser by a careful examination of the surface can arrive at a positive and infallible conclusion both os to the character of timber and the quality of the soil ; he knows quite well, when h>T is buying his lot, that ho is getting a full nnd certain value for his money, and that every days labor he expends upon it, will yield a return ; on the other hand, the purchaser of a raining lot is obliged, in most cases, to make a large outlay before any result is obtained, and he runs the risk of absolute loss of all, in case he does not find ores. His mere exploration far e.iceeds in costs tho whole price of an agricultural lot, and besides this he must, in most cases at least spend a still larger amount, before he can even arrive at any positive conclusion, as to the value of his mining lot, even more than would be enough to pay for clearing and fencing the agricultural lot of land. The business of mining is proverbially precarious. In a great many instances the owner of a mining lot after he has paid for his land, and expended many times the amount of its cost U]X>n it, finds that he has made a bad investment, and is the owner of a worthless piece of pro- perty ; should it happen that ho makes a fortunate selection, and becomes the owner of a valuable mine, he is enabled to find profitable work on his single lot for more productive labor, than could be aiforded upon fifty agricultural lots. At the same time the employment for labor so aflforded induces immigration, creates an increased deraaua for imports, as well as for home productions, and in everyway, much greater service is done to the country, than could be efiected by means of an agricultural lot. It might be considered from this point of view, that if any distinction is made, it should be in favor of the miners, but we have no evidence or experience to shew that a diflerence of price is desirable. But as in most cases it is a boon of some value, to the agricultural settler to be allowed to pay for his land by small instalments reaching over several years, it would on the contrary be an advantage, to the practi- cal miner to be allowed to pay in full, at the purchase and receive his patent forth- with for his lot, it would therefore seem best, that in all cases when lands are bought for mining purposes, payment should be in full at the time of purchase, and the patent therefor be had forthwith, that agricultural lands for settlement should be sold on easy terms of credit, and in all cases the price should be the same for both. to be employed before the products of a id this money will never be obtained tbsolute title, in every respect perfect, for his property before he stirs with his A very large amount of Capital will ha our mineral lands yield any great profits, upon any real property without a complete The miner, therefore, should have the paten mining works. Vour Committee beg however to draw attention to the necessity of adopting some effective means of preventing any party or parties from obtaining largo tracts of land which they could hold in a waste and unimproved condition for speculation, and thus do serious injury to the public interest. Diflference of opinion as to whether the formation of companies, or the prose- cution of mining by individual efforts, is the Lest calculated to be successful. So far as the evidence goes on this point the weight of it is in favor of companies ; of course this must be mainly controlled by circumstances. Where great risk is incurred, and large expenditure of capital is unavoidable, it cannot be questioned but the company system is the only one that can be employed with hope of success. When a single 11 individual would be unable to proceed, a combination of individuuls could go forward without difliculty. Where mining can be carried on to most advantage by a few miners working together they should have fVee and undisputed option to pursue that system, and where it is believed by others that a company organisation is the only way to secure successful working, they should be allowe'l in that way to proceed with their enterprise to realise their hopes. The attention of your Committee was drawn to the De Lery Patent, l)y which an exclusive right of mining for the precious metals in the seigniory Uigaud Vaudreuil is vested in the De Lery family. This patent was granted in 1846. (Sco npnendix.) The seigniory over which it gives the right extends nine miles along the batiks of the Chaudidre river, and back six miles on each side. Among other conditions it requires a royalty of one tenth of the gold to be paid to the Crown. The Messrs. De Lery have leased their right from time to time to other parties, who liiive worked inulf-r it to a limited extent. The diggings on the Gilbert River and several other places where the largest portion of the mining works have been cnrricd on, nre on this pro- perty. DiflicHilties have arisen in enforcing the conditions of the Patent, nnd whatever effect it may have had heretofore, its existence at the present time is highly detri- mental to the progress of mining in that section. These difficulties must increase as the mining works increase, and cannot fail to prove injurious to the public interest. All practical miners agree that the diggings cannot be worked under the ten \rer cent royalty. Various opinions are entertained us to the validity of the patent and whether its terms can be enforced. There has been litigation on the subject, but as yet without any dicisive results. By reference to the Letter of the Hon. Commis- sioner of Crown Lands of the 24'th October last, it will be seen that the subject has been officially referred to the Law Officers of the Crawn, and it appears by M. De Lery's evidence that he also, was anxious for a decision by the same authority. It is now under consideration. This being a legal question, your Committee can do no more than present the facts, and their injurious effect uix>n the public interests accompanied with a recommendation that stens he at once taken to effect an equitable settlement with the parties, and remove the difficulty forever. As already indicated your Committee are of opinion that the opening of roadii through certain parts of the mining lands would contribute greatly towards its deve- lopment: — Both for the settlement of the lands fit lor cultivation and affording access to the mineral lands roads are much required. Your Committee would also draw attention to the necessity that now exists for an Assayer of minerals being placed as a permanent officer at some convenient jiuint in the mining region. The evidence on this point is unanimous. Your Committee beg to recommend that t,uch an officer be appointed ; a small annual salary with cer- tain fees for making assays would meet the expense, while the benefit would bo very great. ;;s In taking a general view of this subject the most )ironiiiient fact that presents itself is the large area embraced in the country desciib. d as auriferous. This will perhaps be most readily comprehended, by considering, that it exceeds the aroa of the state of Vermont. The explorations which have been made in the Canadian gold fields are, as yet, only very imperfect; but enough is known to justify favourable anticipations. Although the existence of gold in that section has been known for 20 years or more, it is only recently that it has attracted public attention. One of the first explorers, Mr. Cunnigham, who was employed by the Messrs. DeLery, made an examination in 1846, and wrote a report thereon in March 1847. which was pnblished m that month. A further report was made by M. Cunningham, in 1850 ; those reports are creditable productions and so far as the examinations exten- ded they exhibit favourable results and express opinions that gold existed in quantities to pay for its extraction which have since been verified by actual working. S: i n It ' In August, 1853, Lord Elgin, in a despatch to the Seerctary of State for the Co- lonies, says : " Before concluding this Eeport, I will, with your Grace's permission, offer a fejr ■jremarks, on two districts of the Province which I have visited since the close of the Parliamentary Session, and which though they are out of the track of ordinary trti'el, possess features of considerable interest. « Of these districts the one which I first visited Ues to the south of the St. LaMr- fence at u distance of about 60 miles from Quebec. The discovery of gold at various points within it, and more particularly in the beds and banks of some of the smaller stjreams which fall into the Eiver Chandidxe,has attracted attention to it of late years. The geological formation in which these discoveries have been made is held to be a :prolongation of the Green Mountains of Vermont, and its strata bear a close analogy to those that run through Virginia, the Carolinas and other Southern States in which .^old has been found at intervals in veins and alluvial deposits. The gold woxkiogs in this district have hitherto been conducted on a very small scale by companies employing hired labour, and for obvious reasons it is difficult under such ciroums' tances to ascertain what may have been the amount of the actual yield. " The encouragement which the companies have met with is at any rate such as to induce them, after the experienca of two or three years, to continue their ope- rations. I was unable to visit the most productive working, but a considerable quan- tity of gold was extracted, in my presence, from the gmvel on the banks of a small stream called Bes Plantes which runs into the Chauai^re." How far the existence of the patent granted to the Se Lery family in 1^4$,* may have affected mining operations and the development of the gold region, is, of course — a subject for consideration ; and whether the rapidly developed and wonder- fully large products of the gold fields of California and Australia during this pociod had the effect of absorbing public attention so as to leave this region neglected, it is difficult to decide. It will yet take some time and a large expenditure of labour to prove the value of the Chaudidre gold fields, but the evidence of practical men and 'the products of actual working establish the fact that there are good grounds to believe 'that they will prove remunerative. It has been the main object of your committee to exhibit as correctly as it is possible to do, the state of things as they exist, with the view to afibrd information that will be serviceable in promoting the public interest. This they regard as a duty both to prevent wasteful expenditure and to guide as far as practicable to profitable employment of capital and labour. They are aware from the evidence before them that some parties in order to forward their own interests have placed before the public exaggerated statements which are calculated to mislead as to the value and rich yield of the Canadian gold fields. Such statements unsustained I y truth must prove injurious to those who earnestly embark in these undertakings in a legitimate way and aim to effect their purpose by industry and enterprise. Perhaps evils of the kind have been incidental to all classed of adventure, and if the gold fields of Canada have suffered it is hoped that the labour of your committee in collecting the mass of evidence on the subject, a portion of whieh accompanies this report, will tend, at least, to prevent the recurrence in future of such misrepresentations. All which is respectfully submitted. 16th March, 18^. ROBERT BELL, Chairmar. l.iii'iiti&^l^4iA.n.~;:ii'H^^'A-i^MiJ^i iV< %^U. \u^ ■>' ET.IDENCE... (tetfTftl witnetwt appeind before tkir Oottixiittee a nnuber of tknet ; tht date giveni iA eaoh intattee i» thAt wlieir the witnesi oonpkted lus Erideuee.) Dtcisimqfiht Court of Queen^s Binehi the highat tr&fiftuti in Camtda, as t9- Floatable Rivers. Q u s K N ' 'J Bench, App'^Af. Side. DISTRICT OJ* QUEBEC. Befbr Sir L. K. tafontaine, Bart., Chief Justice, AyIwiii,Dilval, Meredith, and Mondelet, Juistices. m^^vmht,. Appellant ; »nd DENIS, Respondent. Held :— 1. That rivers non-n",vigables et non-flottables 9xe tlte private property of the riparian proprietors, who have consequently exclusive control over the same. 2. That the Jacques Cartier is a river non-navigable et non-^ottable, and the nptfiail proprietom have come^umitly the exclusive right of fishing therein. (10 Lower Canada Reports, p. 29^>) Legislative Assembly, Itii Fd/ruari/, 1865; Evidence of Captain HERBERT WILLIAMS, of Leeds, County Megan tic. - Are you not Captain of Harvey Hill Copper Mines, Leeds ? I am the Superintendent of the Harvey Hill Copper Mines, and have been so for the last seven years. You are doubtless a practical miner ? I am professionally a Mining Engineer, and haVe been engaged in raining all my life. Have you ever had any experience as a Gcdd Miner, and if so, will you be l^eased to state whore and when 1 I have had no experience as a Gold Miner. Have you ever visited the Gold Mine» in this Province, and if so, will you be pleased to state what your ideas are as to the same, comparatively, with other mining gold regions ? I visited the Chaudidre Gold Fields in 1859, 1862, and again in 1864. When t Visited the Gold Fields in 1859, active operations wera being carried on at the mouth of the Du Loup Biver, by the Nipanee Company ; it then appeared to me that the systsfli w«s most defective, inasmuch that no provisibn was made for saving the fine gold. On my second visit in 1862, 1 went expressly to examine some qnattt veins 14 HERBERT Vi ILhlAMS— (Continued,) at the Devil's Rapids, on the Chaudi^re River, in the parish of St. Francis. I found the vein then explored to contain a notable quantity of gold, but the explorations on it were on so limited a scale, that I was unable to form a general opinion as to its ■extent or productiveness. I visited the Gilbert River in 1864, where there were a great number of men at work, but I was unable to obtain any reliable information as to the result of their operations, and no provision, so far as I could learn, was made for saving the fine gold. I also visited the Guillaume and Ruissean des Plantas Rivers, in the township of Cranbourne, in 1864. My report on these I have at home, and will furnish the Committee with a copy if they aesire it. Have you read the Act of this Province respecting gold mines, and if so, from your practical knowledge as a miner, will you be pleased to inform the Committee if you could suggest any amendments to same, tending to the better development of the gold fields ? I have only perused the Act within the last 24 hours. 1 consider the extent of the claims for quarts; mines so small, that I could not, as a miner, recommend the •erection of expensive machinery, unless the lead was unusually rich. From what you do know of the Chaudiere Gold Fields, what is your opinion as to the quantity of gold in the region, and whether it is likely to yield profitable results from the working 1 There is evidently large quantities of gold there, and by the proper direction of labor, the application of suitable machinery, as well for the economical remo/al >'* the soil, as well as the saving of the fine Gold, I believe it can be worked to a profit What was the highest point on the Chaudiere that you visited, and did you ascend the Du Loup and any of its tributaries 1 I ascended the Chaudidre as far as the Du Loup, and followed its course to the height of land, and on several of the small tributaries of the Du Loup I found traces of gold. Can you give the Committee an idea of the extent of the gold fields, and of the character of the country ? I cannot give any idea of the extent ; I know the country from Harvey Hill to the Boundary Line, top of the Du Loup between 60 to 70 miles in a straight line, the country is mountainous, and of such a character as would indicate gold, and a well watered country ; saw only one lake. 11th February, 1165. Evidence of JOHN MACRAE, of Glengarry. Are you a practical working gold-miner 1 ,■ ^ . . I am. "/ Have you been mining in the Chaudiere mining region ; if so please state for what period and with what results ? I have been mining on the Gilbert River all my time, and that is about six months, and, as for the results, they were part of the time hopeless, but I never could say but there was a sufiicient quantity of gold to be found, if people had a sufllbient length of time to put their claims in order, in proper shape to work to advantage. Are you working imder a license and is it on public or private lands ? Without license and on private land in the Rigaud-Vaudreuil Seigniory, princi- pally on Rankin's. Do you still continue your mining operations, and if so, do you und it as remu- nerative in winter as summer ; if not, why not T I am still in the mining business and I really think that in hill digging I would take my chance in Winter as soon as in the summer. Ifi JOHN MACRAE— (Continued.) Have you prospected over various parts of the Chaudi^re Country ; if so please state where and what opinion have you formed of it as a gold mining country and if you think the mines can be worked on a much more extended scale than at present and be remunerative ? I have not been in any place but on the Gilbert River and I have reason to believe that it yields pretty good indications; I have found, myself and partners, from the colour in gold to a nugget of twelve ounces and fourteen pennyweights, as for the working of claims it is like the holding of claims without system. What si^ed nuggets have you ever found in the Chaudidre or seen found by others 1 My partners and I found one nugget that weighed twelve ounces and fourteea pennyweights, which I now exhibit to the Committee, and during the time which I have been on the Gilbert I have seen a great many different sizes of nuggets, but the next two largest I have seen were about eight and a half ounces. I found the large nugget on Rankin's land on the 17th of January last, on the river Gilbert. And what I exhibited in the bag, very nearly eleven ounces of gold, I also found since the 3rd of January last, also on Rankin's land on the river Gilbert. Have you seen Quartz veins in the mining regions, and if so where and to what extent do you think that they exist or extend, and what is your opinion of the quality of the Quartz or is there any means or assaying it there or where can it be assayed 1 I have seen different veins of Quartz but to form any opinion of their value or extent I cannot give a proper opinion. Have you been mining alone or in company during the past season, and, in either case, what amount of gold have you or your company found — as near as you can form a fair opinion ? I was in company of two others and during our partnership we took out thirty three ounces of gold from the 1st of October to the 1st of February. Have you formed any opinion as to the effect of the DeLery Patent in the mining country. In what way it has affected the mining interest or the development of the resources? A^ for the De Lery Patent, they never interfered with me, and I never enquired after their rights. Have you ever mined in Australia, California, or any other gold fields. If so please state where, how long and with what success 1 I never mined in any other country but this. A -e you aware of any quicksilver having been found, or indications of silver or eop|:'jr 1 the gold regions'? T im not aware of any. Are you aware of any precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies, pearls, &c., having been found, and if so have they been of any value, and to what extent? I have heard of rubies and pearls being found, but I never had the pleasure of finding any of them. Have you had any difRculty in obtaining claims to work upon on the Govern- ment lands, and are you aware of any preference having been given to other par- ties injurious to the working miner or to the development of the resources of the mining region ? I never worked on Grovernment lands, and I never saw a miner who had seen :*uok lands to work on. • t- wvi.;'- 1 •'f.>« td nil I Evidence of ANDREW DALE, River Gilbert. Are you a practical working gold miner } Yes. Have you been mining on the Chaudi^re, if so, please state for what period and with what result ? I have been mining on the Chaudidre mining region from June, ISG^yUntilnow. In the summer season T was unsuccessful, having to pay $25 to prospect a claim four- teen days, and $50 in case of purchase. Claims being 25 feet front, 100 feet back. In the winter season had some succe8»-~-making on the whole mote than average wages. ' Are you working xuider a license, and is it on public or private lands? No. I have been working principally on the Seigniory Rigaud-Vandreuil, where Bo license was exacted. Do you still continue your mining operations, and if so^ do you find it as remu- nerative in "vcinter as in summer, if not, why noti I still continue mining Hill-ddgging' or tunneting may be worked a» profltaUy ia-wrinter as in summer ; the j <.s of soakago water in summer, in may cases taking frway about one-third of the lai i surface diggings cannot be worked profitably in winter unless miners be allowed Uiore time to work their claims, whereby they may stole up tUeir winter pay dirt to be washed in summer. Have you pros|)ected over various part of the Chatididre country ; if so, please state where and what opinion have you formed of it as a gold bearing country and if yea think the mines can be worked on a much more extended scale and be remu- nerative 1 I ha\e prospected on several streams in the Chaudi^re division, on some peaces at considerable expense. My opinion is that till small companies are formed with capital sufficient to get up a quartz crushing mill and other necessary implements, the im^ metals of our country will, to a considerable extent, be run over, seeing that the idlttvial diggin^pK are only a paxt of the whole. What sized nuggets have you ever found on the Chandi^re, or seen found by others ? The largest nugget that I found was sold to Mr. Robb for $200 ; its weight was between 8 and 9 ounces. The largest I ever saw was found by McCrae and com- pany, weight over 12 ounces, there were several other large pieces taken out during the season from 11 ounces downwards; Have you seen quartz veins in the mining regions, and, if so, where and to what extent do you think that they exist or extend, and what is your opinion of the qua- lity of the quartz or is there any means of assaying it there or where can it be assayed 1 I have seen quartz veins in abundance in the Chaudi^re division varying from a few inches in width to 4 or 5 feet, part of one opened by Mr. Coraan, measuring over 10 feet. I furnished Mr. Hood, agent for the Reciprocity gold mining company, and professor Worts of New-York with specimens of quartz taken from a shafl made by me on Gilbert River, which, when assayed at New- York, turned out, I am told, $95 to the ton. There is no place in Canada, that I am aware of, where miners can teveaa assay made. Have you been mining alone or in company during the past season, and, in either case, what amount of gold nave you or your company found as near as you can form a fair opinion 1 I started mining in company of six ; four of them were old miners. As the season advanced, some of them left for home on account of not making enough to pay their ""■Mm ANDREW DALE— (Continued.) way. In the fall, being left alone, I joined in company with Mr. Smith. Ever since we were tolerably successful taking out, as near as I can calculate, 30 ounces. Have you formed any opinion as to the effect of the De L6ry patent in the mi- ning country. In what respect has it r. Ifected the mining interest or the develop- ment of the resources ? The principal portion of lands mined in the Chaudi^re district are situated on the River Gilbert covered, I believe, by the De L6ry patent, but leased to miners b» Col. Rankin, Dr. Reed and others at the rate of about ten dollars per foot frontage besides paying for claims, the miners had reason to fear the other party concerned ; t^ some persons, in the early part of the season, were busy trying to ascertain the amoun of gold taken out of each claim for the purpose, it was supposed, of enforcing ten pc> cent, which however was never attempted. Have you ever mined in Austria, California, or any other gold fields ; if so, pleasi state where, for how long and with what success 1 I never mined for gold but in the Chaudiire mining district. Are you aware of any quicksilver having been found or indications of silver or copper in the gold region 1 No quick silver. I believe there are indications of silver and copper, having seen specimens in miners hands, but never visited the places where they were found. Are you aware of any precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies or pearls, «^c.y having been found, and if so, have they been of any value and to what extenti I have seen rubies taken out of the Famine and Du Loup. Pearls are foimd ia numerous streams in this district, good ones being worth from one dollar upwards, in one case I heard of 30 dollars being payed for one. Have you had any difficulty in obtaining claims to work upon on the Government Lands and are you aware of any preference having been given to other parties injiurious to the working miner or to the development of the resources of the mining region 1 I had no difficulty in obtaining claims on the Gilbert River, when I chose to pay the price demanded by the agents of Rankin and Reed. But, as regards Government ment Land, I have prospected on the Chaudi^re du Loup, Famine, Gilbert and other streams finding none, being all owned or claimed by some one or other, and, in some )laces, guarded to prevent miners from prospecting. As a freeholder myself and tnowing that the Government have reserved the minerals of the country, I think it lighly necessary that the Government should adopt these rights and frame a special Act for the working of the same. Evidence of WILLIAM ABBOTT, of River Gilbert. Are you a practical working gold-miner ] T am. I worked at gold-mining for upwards of four years in this country and California ; three years in California and one year on the Chaudidre. Have you been mining in the Chaudi^re region, if so, please state for what period and with what results ? I have been mining in the Chaudiere region in the years J 863, 1864 and 1865. In June 1864., I bought a claim from Dr. J. Reed, 60 feet fronting on the Gilbert river and one hundred feet deep. Myself and others took from this claim $1,750 01 worth of gold. In August I bought a claim from A" Rankin, Esquire, 25 feet by on4 hundred and took out of this claim $595 00 worth. Are you working under a license and is it on public or private lands ? I have been working on private lands owned by A. Rankin, Esquire, and Dr Reed. I took out no license as their lands are in the Seigniory of Rigaud Vaudreul covered by the DeLery patent. 2 . . im 18 WILLIAM ABBOTT— (Continued.) Do you still continue your mining operations, and if so, do you find it as remu- nerative in winter as in summer, if not, why not ? I still continue mining. It is not as profitable as in the summer as I have to work underground by candle-light. It nevertheless pays good wages. Have you prospected over various parts of the Chaudi6re country, if so please State wheire and what opinion you have formed of it as a gold-bearing country and if you think the mines can be worked on a much more extended scale than at present and be remuaerative 1 In 1863 I prospected over several parts of the Chaudi^re district, first on the Fftinine river ; I found good prospects here and observed a good deal of ground that, I believe, would pay if properly worked. There are large alluvial flats on this river. I also prospected on the Du Loup and Stafibrd rivers ; the prospects here were also very good. I observed on these rivers numerous quartz veins and I am of opinion that these veins contain gold. I believe the gold-mining will be profitable if properly conducted and pay immensely if worked on a large scale by the hydraulic method as in California or by ground-sluicing. "Vrhat sized nuggets have you ever found on the Chaudi^re or seen found by others? , 0n the c^aim purchased from Dr. Reed were found three large nuggets worth ^300, $82 & $79 respectively. On the next claim to this worked by Messrs. Steele and Gomnany I saw several large nuggetts worth $100, $104, and others worth between $50 arid $60 respectively. Have you seen any ^quartz veins in the mining region, and if so, where and to what extent do you think they exist or extend, and what is your opinion of the quality of the quartz, or is there any means of assaying there or where can it be I hive seen many quartz veins particularly on the Gilbert, on the Chaudidre, on the Staffbrd river and Lu Loup. I foiind gold mixed with quartz while washings I belifeve from this fact that the gold came from the quartz but, as there was no assayist on the spot, I could not asceirtain the quantity of gold that may be in any of thesis qUartiis veins. I would strongly advise the Government to appoint a practical gold assayer for the Chaudidire district. Have you been mining alone or in company during the past season, and, in either case, what amount of gold have you or your company found as near as you can form a fair opinion ? I have mined in company with two others. We have taken out during the summer of 1864<, 60 ounces of gold. Have you formed any opinion as to the effect of the DeLery patent in the mining country — in what way it has affected the mining interest or the development of the resources 1 The DeLery patent has caused a great deal of confusion, and no gold mining operations on a large scale, such as the erection of quartz mills or Hydraulic works will be gone into by private companies as long as the dispute between the owners of the land and the patent is not settled. Besides no company or private individual is able to pay a royalty of ten per cent. . No gold miner can afford to pay this much. Have you ever mined in Australia, California or any other gold fields — if so, please state where, for how long and with what success ? I have mined in California, in the county of Bate, in 1855, 56 and 57 with success. Do you find any similarity between the gold fields of California and those on the Chaudi^re, if so, please state in what respect and if, from what you have seen, they are equally rich in gold ? 19 WILLIAM ABBOTT— (Contintted.) The gold-fields on the Chandidre resemble those of California. The mountains are not so high. I am of opinion that the gold fields of Canada arc as rich as those of California. From yoiu California experience of three years could you suggest to the com- mittee any improvements as to the working, police regulations and general manage- ment of the Chaudi^re mining region ? In the working of the gold mines, I would advise from my experience ini California : Firstly,-— 1 would advise the claims to be much larger in order to enable the., miners to erect sluices and get a sufficient head of water. The claims should be al least 50 feet fronting on the river. Secondly — A board of miners, composed of three practical miners chosen ever) six months by the miners on each river and presided over by the Government Como missioner, should have full power to settle all miners' disputes and for regulating' the just and equitable distribution of the ^vater and the erection of dams. The country is so peaceable that I believe three policemen and the Commis- sioner will be able to enforce the law and keep down all riots as the miners are determined to assist the Government to keep order and quiet on the diggings. Have you found the water supply for mining pur{)oses on the Chaudidre equal to the supply at the California mines ? The supply of water is equal to that of California. Are you aware of any Quicksilver having been found or any indications of Silver or Copper in the gold region ? I am not aware of any quicksilver being as yat found on the Chaudidre. Silver and copper have been found at several places. Are you aware of any precious stones, such as Diamonds, Rubies, Pearls, &c. having been found, and if so, have they been of any value and to any extent? I have seen precious stones that have been found in the Chaudi6re district, such as rubies and pearls. Some of the pearls were worth 15 to 16 dollars. Evidence of ANDREW SMITH, of Gilbert River. Are you a practical working gold miner 1 I am. I have worked at gold mining for three years in Pike's Peak and part of two years in this country in the Chaudi^re mining region. Have you been mining in the Chaudidre mining region, if so, please state for what period and with what results 1 I have been mining in the Chaudi^re region in 1864 and 1865, part of the time with little success, part of the time very good. Are you working under a license and is it on public or private lands ? I have been on private lands owned by A. Rankin, Esquire, and Dr. Reed. I took no license as these lands are in the seigniory of Rigaud Vaudreuil covered by the DeLery Patent. Do you still continue your mining operations and, if so, do you find it as remu- nerative in winter as in summer, if not, why not ? I still continue mining. It is not as profitable as in summer as we have to waat under ground by candle light. Still in most cases it pays wages and sometimes more Have you prospected over various parts of the Chaudidre country, if so, pleas! state where and what opinion you have formed of it as a gold bearing country, auN if you think the mines can be worked on a much more extended scale thanj.1 present and be remunerative? 2* 1 ■ if 20 ANDREW SMITH— (Continued.) I prospected over a great deal of the Chnndidre District during the greatest pnrt of three months, prospecting lirst on the Famine River, where I believe there is land that would pay well if properly worked ; on the Dii Loup and tributaries I also found gold, but ft>r reasons that I shall hereafter mention, I did not get a fair chance to give it a fair test ; on the Plant River I found very good prospects. I also prospected in the Township of Cranbourne and I saw very good appearances of gold there. It is my opinion that the Chaudiiire District is equal to and, in some cases, better than Pike's Peak, and it is my opinion that it might be worked on a much larger scale and with good results. What sized Nugget have you ever found on the Chaudiire or seen found by others? The largest sized nugget that I found was two hundr ;(1 dollars, and several others from the value of fifty dollars down to twenty-five dollars, and I have seen a great many that others got from the value of three hundred dollars down to ten dollars. Have you seen any quartz veins in the mining region, and if so, where and to v/hat extent do you think they exist or extend and what is your opinion of the quality of the quartz, or is there any means of assaying it there or where can it be assayed ? 1 have seen a great many quartz veins in the Chaudi^re District, on the Gilbert, on the Famine, on the Du Loup, in Cranbourne, on the Chaudi^re River, on the Plant River. The quartz veins extend all over the Chaudiere District. The quartz looks well and to what little has been done to test it, it turns out well as far as my expe- rience in Pike's Peak, with the quartz there, goes ; as to what has been tested here I should say that it turns out a large yield. As for the means to assay the quartz at the mines, we have none. I would recommend to this committee to consider the matter, how beneficial it would be to the raining interest to have a practical man in the neighbourhood of the mines to test these things for the miners. Have you been mining alone or in Company during tl 3 past season and in either case, what amount of gold have you or your Company found as near as you can form a lair opinion ? I have been mining in Company with one other miner pretty much all the time, and the amount of gold, as near as I can give a fair estimate, will come in the vicinity of thirty ounces. Have you formed any opinion as to the efiect of the DeL6ry Patent in the mining country ; in what way it has affected the mining interest or the develope- ment of the resources ? The De Lery pat?nt has caused a great deal of confusion and no gold mining operations on a large scale, such as the erection of quartz mills or hydraulic works, will be gone into as long as the owners of the patent and the land are not settled ; besides no miner is able to pay ten per cent. That would be worse than it is now at the high rate we have to pay for land. To develope the ressources of the country, my plan would be, if I could get my way, to give every miner a license and let him dig wherever he could find gold either on public or private lands and pay the damage at a fair rate according to what the land was worth. Then, in my opinion, you would see the gold coming out ; but, as long as the present state of things exists, I am afraid the country will not flourish much as far as the gold is concerned. Have you ever mined in Australia, California or any other gold fields ; if so, please state where, for how long and with what success 1 I have mined in Pike's Peak for three years and in Mexico for about six months with a middling fair share of success. Do you fiind any similarity between the gold fields of California and those of the Chaudidre ; if so, please state in what respect and if, from what you have seen, they ara equally rich in gold ? • — - / vvu my rold ^hat i>ut ; not sase iths ^e of keen, ANDREW SMITH— (Continued.) There is some similarity between the Chaudidre gold fields and Fike*s Peak ; but the hills are not so high. I am of opinion that parts of the Chaudidre country are as rich, if not richer, than any of Pike's Peak. From your Pike's Peak experience of three years, could you suggest to the Com- mittee any improvements as to the working, police regulations and general manage- ment of the Chaudi(^re mining region ? In the working of the gold mines 1 would advise, from my experience in Pike's Peak. Firstly I would advise the claims to be much larger in order to enable the miners to erect sluices and get a sufficient head of water. The claims should be at least fifty feet fronting on the river. Secondly. A board of miners, composed of three practical miners, chosen every six months, by the miners, on each river and presided over by the government commissioner, should have full power to settle all manner of dispute and for regula- ting the just and equitable distribution of the water and the erection of dams. The country is so peaceable that I believe three policemen and the Commissioner will be able to enforce the law and keep down all riots as the miners are determined to assist the government to keep order and quiet at the diggings. Have you found the water supply for mining purposes in the Chaudidre equal to the supply at the Pike's Peak mines f The supply of water is equal to that of Pike's Peak and in some places much better. Are you aware of any quicksilver being found or indications of silver or copper in the gold region 1 I am not aware of any quicksilver being as yet found on the Chaudi6re. Silver and copper have been found in several places. I saw some specimens of copper in the quartz that I considered to be pretty good, taken from the surface. Are you aware of any precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies, pearls, &c. having been found, and, if so, have they been of any value and to what extent 1 I have seen precious stones that I supposed to be diamonds, but they were very small. I also saw rubies but they were likewise very small. I have nut seen the pearls, but they are found in the Chaudidre region, in the rivers and in the lakes^ some of the pearls of considerable value. Have you had any difficulty in obtaining claims to work upon on the govern' ment lands and are you aware of any preference having been given to other parties injurious to the working miner or to the development of the resources of the mining region 1 Yes, 1 have h;id difficulty in finding government land fit for mining purposes; on the Du Loup and tributaries, I found the land all taken up by speculutors ; on the Famine, to a great extent, the same j on the Gilbert some of the same thing existed. In my opinion I should say that was very injurious to the working miner. In the first place, it keeps back prospecting. In the second place it is injurious owing to the high price that they put on their land. Some lands have been sold as high as sixteen hundred dollars per acre and, in some cases, more than that. In my opinion it is injurious to the development of the resources of the mining region as far as regards the working miner. Evidence of JOHN BRACK, of St. George, C. E. Are you a practical working Gold miner 1 ■ * - -^ • - ,, Yes. Have you been mining in the Chaudidre mining region, if so, please state fur what period and with what results ? I have been gold mining in the Chaudidre gold region for the past fourteen years, and am perfectly satisfieid with the results. xfl 22 111! lii-ii JOHN BB.ACK-'(Continued.') Are you working under a license and is it on Public or Private Lands ? I was last working under a license in the bed of the Famine river, in the Town- ship of Watford, I have also worked on private lands. Do you still continue your mining operations, and, if so, do you find it as remu- nerative in the "Winter as in Summer, if not, why not ? I do not find gold mining so remunerative during the Winter as in Summer. Nevertheless I am of opinion that gold mining can be carried on profitably during the Winter. Have you prospected over various parts of the Chaudidre Country. If so please state where and what opinion have you formed of it as a gold bearing country, and if you think the Mines can be worked on a much more extended scale than at pre- sent and be remunerative? I have prospected over various part of the Chaudidre Country, on the River Du lioup, in the Townships of Jersey and Linidre, on the Main Chaudi6re, in the Town- i^i^ of Shenley and Jersey near the Great and Lesser Chaudi6re Falls, on the Staffi)rd River, in the township of Jersey, on the Famine River, in the Township of "Watford, on the Gilbert River, in the Township of Cranbourne, and in the parish of St. Francis ; I am of opinion that there are rich diggings on all these rivers and that the Mines may be worked on a far more extensive scale and with more profitable results. What sized Nuggets have you ever found on the Chaudi^re or seen found by Others ? 1: In 1852 or 1853 we found one Nugget on the Du Loup, half a pound weight and several others weighing ? quarter of a pound and two ounces. In 1863, 186 1< and 1865, 1 saw a great many large Nuggets taken out of the Famine and the Gilbert averaging from one ounce to over a pound in weight. Have you seen Quartz Veins in the Mining Regions, and, if sp, where and to -what extent do you think that they exist or extend and what is your opinion of the ^quality of the Quartz or is there any means of assaying it there or where can it be assayed 1 I have seen many Quartz Veins in many parts of the Chaudi^re Region, at the Devil's Rapids and on the Gilbert River, in the Parish of St. Francis, in the Town- ship of Cranbourne, on the head of the Gilbert River, on the Chaudidre, Stafford, Hiver du Loup, in the Townships of Jersey, Lini^re and Shenley, on the Famine, in the Township of Watford. I am positive that many of the Quartz Veins contain gold as I have picked the gold out of them in several places. There are no means of having the quartz pro{)erly assayed on the spot. lluve yuu been mining alone or in company during the past season, and, in either case, what amount of gold have yuu or your company found, as near as you can form a f .ir opiuiun 1 I have been mining alone ai^d been emplpyed by Dr. J. Reed, chuing the past season, I have taken out about 20 ounces. ' Have you formed any opinion as to the effect of the De Lery Patent in the Mining Country. In what way has it affected the Mining interest or the develop- ment of the resources i The De Lery Patent has prevented e^ny lajrge Mining operations from being carried on in St. -Francis. No person would work under this patent if they were obliged to pay royalty of ten per cent besides tihe laud (j^amages. Is it not the case that the largest mining operations that have been carried on, have been in the Seigniory of Rigaud Voukhrenil during the past season 1 Yes, it is so, the largest operations have been carried' on there, but if the o>!t^era of the De Lery Patent have to pay the Grovernment ten per c«nt royalty a«d land damages, they could not possibly go on. . , je id A 3u ;he lOf I of hat ills. I by and the idto the it be ^d, in you past the [elop- Deing I were Ld on, 23 '» JOHN BRACK— (Continued.) Have you ever mined in Australia, California or any other Gold fields, if 80| please state where, for how long and with whatsuccesss ? I have nut mined in any other country but Canada. Are you awaie of any Quicksib 'sr having been found or indications of Silver or Copper in the Gold Region 1 I have seen no Quicksilver ; I have found copper and silver in various parts of the Chaudidre Country, particularly in Cranbourne and Watford. Are you aware of any precioiis stones, such at Diamonds, Rubies, Pearls, dec, having been found, and, if so, have they been of any value and to what extent ? I have seen pearls got from the Chaudidre, but cannot 3tate their value. Have you had any difficulty in obtaining claims to work upon on the Govern- ment Lands and are you aware of any preference having been given to other parties injurious to the working miner or to the development of the resources of the ,ja[Xini,ng region 1 i never experienced any difficulty in obtaining claims. Parties owning lands on the Famine endeavored to prevent me from working in the bed of that river after my having procured from the Gold Commissioner a license to do so, and even threatened to shoot me if I would not desist in working up to high water mark and also tried to stop me from crossing their lands to get to the bed of the river. ilth February, 1866. Evidence of THOMAS SINJOHN, St. Louis Road, Quebec. Are you a practical working gold miner ? Yes. I have worked on the Chaudi^re and also in Australia. Have you been mining in the Chaudidre mining region, if so, please state for what period and with what results ? I have worked with a party of six on the Gilbert River, and we got about two ounces of gold in about four days. Were you working under a license and is it on public or private lands ? I have no license. I have worked on private lands of Dr. Reed, in the Seigniory of Rigaud, Vaudreuil. Do you still continue your mining operations, and, if so, do you find it as remu- nerative in winter as in summer, if not, why not 1 I am not working now, but it can be worked in winter, in parts, as well as in summer, say in the high lands. Have you prospected over various parts of the Chaudi^re country ; if so, please state where ana what opinion you have formed of it as a gold-bearing country, and if you think the mines can be worked on a much more extended scale than at present and be remunerative ? Yes, last June, I prospected for Mr. Glover on the River du Loup, twelve miles from its mouth, and also on the Metgermette, and found gold in different parts, wa/i. on the River Plant also. I have reason to believe it is a fair gold-bearing country i^id would be remunerative if worked on reasonable terms and under good police regula- tions. What sized nuggets have you ever found on the Chaudi^re or seen found by otheis 1 I have not found any larger than one penny weight. I have seen nuggets from i ounce up to 10 ounces ; but I cannot say where it was found, but I have no d^ubt that it was found on the GilbeVt River. ^ 24 THOMAS 8imOHN— (Continued.) Have you seen any quartz veins in the raining region, and, if so, where and to what extent do you think they exist or extend, and what is your opinion of the quality of the quartz, or is their any ineans of assaying it there, or where can it be assayed ? I have only seen one voin of quartz on Mr. Glover's land on the East side of the River du Loup ; I believe it is gold-bearing quartz. It cannot be assayed oh the ground as there is no officer to do it. An assayer would be very useful on the spot. Have you been mining alone or in company during the past season, and, in either case, what amount of gold have you or your company found as near as you can form a fair opinion ? I have been working with a party of six on Dr. Reed's land. We found about two ounces of gold in about four days. Have you formed any opinion as to the effect of the De LAry Patent in the mining country, in what way has it affected the mining interest or the development of the resources ? It has not affected the mining country for the ground has changed hands too often. Have you ever mined in Australia, California or any Gold Fields, if so, please state where, for how long and with what success ? I have worked in Australia for about eight years and made between six and seven thousand pounds. I never was in California. Do you find any similarity between the Gold Fields of Australia and those on the Chaudi^re ; if so, please state in what respect, and if, from what you have seen, they are equally rich in gold ? I don't believe the Chaudidre will ever be as rich as Australia ; the gold is not so good. Tlte gold in Australia is 24 Carats (Ballaratt). Quartz turned out 101 ounces of gold to the ton on New Engewood in the Columbian Reef. From your Australia experience of eight years, could you suggest to the Com- mittee any improvements as to the working. Police Regulations and general manage- ments of the Chaudi'' 'e mining region 1 The Police Regulations are different on the Chaudidre. In Australia the course Sursued was : for two men I paid 30s. stg. each per month for the privilege of igging in 36 feet square ; afterwards it was reduced to 40s. for three months ; then, after the Ballaratt riot, it was again reduced to 20s. for the year for 40 feet square. This was from 1852 to 1855, and up to 1860. The Grovernraent furnish good protec- tion in the ground for which the miners had nothing further to pay. Quartz mining was the same as regards price as alluvial, but the claims were smaller, say four men allowed for 80 by 300 feet across the vein. Have you found the water supply for mining purposes on the Chaudidre equal to the supply at the Australia mines ? The Chaudidre is much more favourable as regards the supply of water than Australia. In many cases we had to carry our wash- dirt ten miles to the water. We used to dig during the dry weather and have to wait until the rainy season to wash ; this was the case in many places. The largest gold was almosj always found on the hills from 1 foot to IJ feet under the surface. Are you aware of any quicksilver having been found, or indications of silver or copper in the gold region ? No, neither here nor in Austmlia. •t^ 25 (» Evidence of PIERRE PATRY, of Arthubaska. Are you a practical working gold miner ? Yes. Have you been mining in the Chaudi^re mining region, if so, please state for what period and vith what results ? I have been mining in the Chaudidre District during the past summer witli satisfactory results. Have you prospected over various parts of the Chaudi^re country, if so, please state where and what opinion have you formed of it as a gold bearmg country and if you think the mines can be worked on a much more extended scale than at present and be remunerative ? I have prospected over various parts of the Chaudidre country, on the Gilbert river in the parish of St. Francis, on the lands of Dr. Reed and Mr. Rankin ; on the Famine river in the township of Watford ; on the Stafford river, in the township of Jersey ; on the Chaudi^re and Gmnd-Coud6e rivers, in the township of Shenley ; on the rivers Eugenia and Drolet, in the township of Grayhurst ; on the Chaudidrc and Nebnellis, in the township of Spalding, and on the river Daaquam in the township of Panet. I found gold on all these rivers and I am of opinion that it will pay if worked in a proper manner and I think that the mines will be worked, with profit, on a much larger scale hereafter. . What sized nuggets have you ever found on the Chaudi^re or seen found by others ? I have not found myself any large nuggets; the largest one found by me was worth fourteen dollars. I have seen others find many large nuggets from one ounce up to nearly a pound ^veight. Have you seen any quartz veins in the mining region, and, if so, where and to what extent to you think they exist or extend, and what is your opinion of the quality of the quartz or is there any means of assaying it there or where can it be assayed ? I have seen quartz veins on the river Gilbert where I was digging on Dr. Reed's land, and I also saw many quartz veins on the rivers Famine, Chaudidre, Stafford, Grand-Coud6e and others. I am of opinion that the quartz on the Gilbert and Stafilbrd rivers is very good and contains gold. It is exactly similar to quartz that I have seen from California. The only means I had to find out if it was gold-bearing was to pound it up small with a hammer on a smooth stone and then wash it. This 1 did several times and found the colour. There are no means of getting a quantitative analysis made in the Chaudi^re district. Have you ever mined in Australia, California or any other gold fields, if so, please state where and with what success 1 I have not mined in any other country but Canada. Are you aware of any quicksilver having been found or indications of silver or copper in the gold region ? I found yellow copper in Jersey and silver lead in Shenly and Jersey. Are you aware of any precious stones, such as Diamonds, Rubies, Pearls &c., having been found, and, if so, have they been of any value and to any extent 1 1 have seen a great many pearls. Some were sold from one dollar to twenty dollars a piece. Do you know what has been the effect of the DeLery patent on gold mining in the parish of St. Francis ? Can gold mining be carried ond profitably under this patent ? . m ' PIERRE VATRY— (Continued.) The De I*ery patent has prevented gold mining on a large scale from being carried on. Gold mining cannot be carried on profitably under the patent as I beleive that not miner could pay a royalty of ten per cent. w Extracts from evidence of Pierre Fatry, taken before a Committee of the Legislative Council, Februart/, 1865. In the month of August last, I went with two other persons into the Township of Panet, on the River Daaquam, we made explorations at several points along that River, and also along several brooks that fall into it ; we found a good deal of quartz along the River Oaaquam and along the Stafford River. I did not crusu llic quartz, but fVom its appearance I have no doubt it contains gold. I met with copper and silver lead on the River Stafford ; I found some gold also at the outlet of Lake Drolet ; I washed some land at the Rive^ Daaquam in which I found gold. The River Daaquam takes its rise in the same mountain as the River Famine : the former runs to the Eastward, and the latter to the Westward. The value of the soil and the rocks, that is to say the slate and the quartz is the same on both rivers. The appearances ar< as good on the River Daaquam as on t^e River Famine ; tliere are several rapids on the River Daaquam and its tributaries which are very favorable for the operation of washing. I have seen many pearls worth from $1 to $20 each, gathered along the River Chaudi^re and it tributaries. Some pearls have been found along the River Daaquam and its tributaries also. If the operations on the River Gilbert were conducted on a larger scale, the product of the mines would be more considerable. 18th February, 1865. Evidence of Mr. A. A. ADAMS, of Coaticoke, Canada East. Have you visited either the St. Francis or Cbaudidre gold mining division? I have visited the St. Francis only. Have you taken a personal interest in gold mining in the St. Francis division? I have. Will you be pleased to inform the Committee what portion of the St. Francis -division you have explored and what has been the success or result of such explora- tion ? My explorations have been confined to the counties of Stanstead and Compton on the borders of lake Massawippi, Massawippi river and their tributaries in the Township of Hatley, County of Stanstead, and on the Coaticoke river and its tribu- taries in the Townships of Barnstown, Barford and Compton in the Counties of Stanstead and Compton. The result has been the discovery of gold on all the small streams explored. What si^ed nuggets have you found or seen found 1 The largest nugget found was of the value of seven dollars. and if so. Ha, Have ycH seen qnartz containing gold in the St. Francis division in what part of the division, and are you aware of the richness of the quartz ? it been assayed and what was the result 1 Large quantities of quartz are to be found in various sections and more or less on every stream in Stanstead and Compton Counties. It is reported to ha\'e been assayed and to contain gold. Professor Tuck informed me in my vis-* to the gold mines, that the quartz and slate he had assayed produced from $18 to ;|i40 per ton of ■xook and the slate and quartz were of equal richness. ^ 27 ve ive hat irtz rtz, 1I30 * lich iver the iver tiich iver uam on a n1 ncis ora- pton the libii- \s of lall lless leen. gol.d A. A. AD kM6— (Continued.) Are you of opinion, from your own experience and what you have learned from other experienced parties, that sufficient gold is to be found in the St. Francis divi- sion to warrant the working of the mines on a much more extensive scale than has yet been carried on ? I am of opinion that gold may be found in certain localities in the St. Francis division in paying quantities. Have you visited the works of the Golcondi Mining Company? Will you be pleased to state where and what do you believe to be the prospects of that Company 1 I visited the works of the Golconda Mining Company in the month of November last and believe their prospects to be good. "What is the supply of water in the St. Francis division for mining purposes 1 The supply of water is abundant. . " February, 1S65. ALEXANDER DeLERY, Esquire, of La Beauce, examined. By the CHAmMAN — , ,, Are you Seignior of Rigaud de Vaudreuil, Seigniory in this Province ? Yes. Had you an interest in the Seigniory of Rigaud de Vaudreuil, on 18th September, 1846, when the De Lery family are said to have obtained from the Government per Letters Patent, an exclusive mining privilege for ever in said Seignory, subject to certain conditions, one condition being the payment of a Royalty of 10 per ct. on the gross produce, and if so do you now hold the patent, and will you be pleased to exhibit it to the Committee 1 I had an interest in the Seigniory of Rigaud Vaudreuil on the 18th September, 1846. I now hold the j atent and exhibit the copy of it to the Committee. Are you aware of any gold having been found in the said Seigniory 1 and if so, can you give the Committee any idea or approximation of the amount, or if the amount has been large ? I know that gold has been found at different periods in the said Seigniory ; but as I never worked or caused to be worked the gold mines in the said t^'eigniory for myself, I cannot give an approximate idea of the amount realized therein, but I' believe it to be a large one. Are you aware if any Royalty has ever been paid to the Government in conformity with the conditions of the Letters Patent, and if so what amount has been paid and by whom ? I am not aware of any Royalty having been | aid to the Government, nor that any is due. Do you still hold the mining rights under the Patent from the Crown already referred to, or have you transferred them to other parties, if so, when, to whom, for what consideration, and what were the conditions of the transfer ? T have leased for 30 years my rights under the Letters Patent. I now exhibit a copy of the said lease. Do you not hold othc lands in the ChauJi6re region, than those contained in the Seigniory of Rigaud Vaudreuil ? ., , I do. Have you leased any portions of such lands to other parties and on what con- ditions as regards any gold or precious metals being found therein 1 and will you be pleased to state to wliom any such leases have been granted, when and for what period 1 The origi- nnl cxibited. ■4 A m 28 ALEXANDER DeLERY— (Con<»nj«?rf.) No, not at present — I have leased to Dr. Douglas, but the lease has expired and I now hold the lands in my own hands. Are you aware of parties who have purchased lands in the Seigniory of Rigaud de Vaudreuil, and have been leasing them to other parties who have been mining on some for gold ? If so, will you be pleased to state who said purchasers are, and the site of these lands, and if you are aware what they paid for these lands 1 I know that certain parties have purchased land in the Seigniory, but I have no personal knowledge sufficient to enable me to answer the other parts of the question. Are you aware if the parties so mining have found gold; and, if so, in what quan- tities ? I have no personal knowledge of it ; but I have very often seen gold, which I was told was extracted from there. Under your construction of the nature of the DeLery patent of 1846, to whom do you conceive the gold so found legitimately belongs 1 and who is liable to the Crown for the Royalty of 10 per cent ? I claim as my exclusive property the right of mining for gold, and the gold in the Seigniory Vaudreuil, and I do not consider myself liable for the royalty of 10 per cent. Have you or any of your family been directly interested in the working for gold in the Seigniory of Rigaud de Vaudreuil, and with v/hat result ? No. Did you conceive that the result of such mining operations would justify the belief in your own mind that gold mining could be carried on in the Seigniory with profit to any parties concerned, subject to a Royalty of 10 per cent, being paid to the Crown on the grrss produce 1 As I have never worked, or caused to be worked, the same mines, T cannot answer this question. Bt Hon. Mr. McDougall — Have you ever been called upon by the Government for any return, or the pay- ment of any Royalty, or have you ever been notified of action having been taken by government, or any order in Council ever having been passed that would affect you 1 Have the government ever called upon you for any return, or have they ever pro- tested, or intimated to you in any way that you were not fulfilling the conditions of your patent ? I have never received any notice except two letters from the Crown Land Department of date 4th August and l'2th September, 1864, which were replied to by my Solicitors, and to which I refer, and which are now before the Committee. I see by by the letters patent of DeLery that one of the conditions imposed by the government on you is to give a description or return setting forth the situation of the mines and minerals in your land. Will you stiv ■I 32 EDWARD hYON— (Continued.) Have you, yourself, ever seen quartz gold in situ, on the Chaudi^re or any of its tributaries, if so, will you state in what Township or Seigniory? Yes, on the Du Loup, Olivia and Kempt streams tributaries of the Chaudidre. In what form is gold found in the localities you are acquainted with, and what are the difterent modes of working? It is found in the alluvial deposits, in the banks of the streams, and lately on the fc^ ; I hill sides. The modes of working are the most primitive imaginable, the cradle, pan i j I or a rudely constructed sluice, were the only contrivances I saw in operation, but very little quicksilver was used. I saw no attempt at catching the fine gold, except when the quicksilver was used, which was in a very few cases, and as a matter of course, a great deal of fine gold was lost. Have you heard of any quicksilver being found or indications of silver or copper it I J in the gold regions ? W 1 1 Quicksilver is said to have been foiind in Jersey, copper pyrites is found very generally over the region, there is more or less silver always mixed with the gold, and argentiferous galena is very common in the quartz veins. Are you aware of any precious stones, as diamonds, rubies, pearls, &c., having been found, and if so, have they been of any value, and to any extent ? I have heard a great deal about pearls, and have seen some very valuable ones. I have also seen rubies and have heard of diamonds, but am not informed as to their value. Are you able to form an opinion in respect of the management of the branch of the Crown Domain, and of the eflfect of the gold mining license system, both under the Act of last session, and prior to that Act ? The management is entirely conducted by the Crown Domain branch of the Crown Lands Department, and it is much to be desired, that it were attended with a greater degree of foresight and prudence than has as yet characterised it ; within little more than 12 months five or six changes have taken place, in regard to the regulations respecting the sale of public lands, and during that period, they have fluctuated in price, to the extent of nearly seven hundred per cent. Laws have been passed to be set aside soon afterwards, and the bill of last session has been over-ridden in two very important particulars, namely, in the first instance, by an order bearing date 15th of September last, to the gold mining Inspector to seize on private property, by granting licenses to mine on the streams which run through it — thus throwing a firebrand of discord between the settlers and the miners. And later in the season, by the abrogation of the office of gold mining Inspector, which the law provides for, as by the act of last session, and an Order of Council thereunto attached. The Gold Mining License system is good enough in itself, if managed according to the Act. Previous to the Act of last session, and the regulations of last April, I arn not aware of any system having been adopted. Have you formed any idea in your own mind as to a better system of develop- ing the resources of the Gold Region, and if so, will you please communicate it to the Committee ? The best way to develop the Gold Region is to afford every encouragement to those who are spending their time and means in endeavoring to open it up. To change the law as little as possible so that people may know what they are about, and appoint a Gold Commissioner, directing him to report to the Secretary's Office, so as to give him a respectable position. The Gold Commissioner of Nova Scotia reports to the Grovernment through the Secretary's office, and the system there works well. * 33 sold, EDWARD LYON— (Co«tt(nu«rf.) Have you formed any opinion as to the eflfect of the DeLery Patent In the mining country, in what way it has afieoted the mining interest or the development of the resources ? I am not acquainted with the merits of the case, and therefore have no opinion to ofier. Are you aware that an order was issued on the 15th of September last, authoriz- ing the Gold Commissioner to grant licenses on all floatable rivers, within high-water mark? I am. And I think it the most extraordinary order ever issued by any Govern- ment on this side of the Atlantic. If presisted in its effect will be to set settlers, land owners, and miners by the ears, and to throw the whole Gold Mining District into confusion. Do you know what i» meant by floatable rivers? I do not know what the Government means by floatable rivers. But I know that tione of the rivers in the Chaudiere Mining Division are floatable in the sense that any reasonable man would attach to the term. Saw logs are of course floated during the spring freshets and sometimes stick. In summer the streams are so low that the sniallest sized birch canoes cannot be floated on them. Last July I took two small 2^ fathom birch canoes to the Du Loup, hoping to be able to use them ; we car- ried them for fifteen miles up the stream on our backs, hoping always to come to some place that would float them, but in vain, and after a great deal of fruitless labor ' we had to abandon them. The Famine is no better. And as to the Chaudiere itself, it may be floatable from St. Francis down, but, above, I should say the same as I have said of the other rivers above named. And would not the low lands in the valley of the Chaudiere and its tributaries .come within the operations of the rule ? Of course they would ; as I have been informed by the officer in charge last fall that it was high-water mark that he had be^^n told to adopt. Would it be likely to make the settlers assume a hostile attitude to the miners? Of course it would ; for it is difficult to conceive how any man could look patiently on, while people were, without his permission, digging in his low lying lands, or erecting dams and sluices in the streams in front of his house. What is your opinion as to the expediency of that order ? My opinion is that it was highly inexpedient — and issued without due consideration. ording [, lam Ivelop- ] to the lent to To [about, ice, so IScotia there Reports on the Famine and Oliva Rivers. I beg to hand you two reports, one by Mr. Sheppard on the Geology of the Famine, and one written by myself on my explorations on the Oliva river. Under the direction of the owners of the gold mining locations on the Oliva River I commenced by prospecting along the whole course of the stream passing Eastward from blocks Nos. 14 to No. 1, finding the colour abundant on blocks Nos. 7, 6, 5, 4 and 3, which is as far down as I prospected with the pan and cradle after which we returned to block No. 7, and sawed out our boards for our sluice by hand, which we found to be a very tedious job indeed. We then proceeded to put them up upon block No. 6, laboring under very great disadvantages from excess of water, after sluicing for 3 or 4 days on block No. 6, we moved down to block No. 5, finding the color abundant as on block No. 6. We were there driven from the channel of the stream by excess of water. We then continued on down the stream as far as block No. 3, where we found more color than in any previous place. I have no doubt but what we lost many particles of gold on account of our boards being green, and therefore not being able to make«the sluices tight. But after all I am convinced that if 3 34 EDWARD hY0TS—iCmtinue4.) we had liad good weather we would have been able to have iqade our cxploratious \)ay expeiiseB, but as it continued to rain every day, except three, during the whole tijne w.e were in the woods, of course we labored under very great disadvantages, as we Wiejre ^ven from the bed of the stream,. and compelled to conline our expipratiQus to the banks of the river, where without great labour we could not hope to reaph the bpttom rock. ''■'The result of our explorations so tlir goes to shew that alluvial gold exists in great'er or less quitntities over the whole of the mining blocks which I examined. W^ile there are some quartz veins, more especially on block No. 14, which bear eVeJy evidence of heing auriferous, of which I send you a specimen, as well as speduneni^ IVom the other lotis lower down. I also send you specimens of gold with tne' black sand obtained on each lot, wliich you will find labelled, so as to shew the exact place from whence they came. The California miner John Kelly, whom you sent to join me is a man of very great experience, but he said that while the flood continued, to persist in our ope- latious would be a mere waste of means. He expressed himself very favorable as to the general prospects, remarking that even in California he had seldom seen ihp cu^r so widely spread. He said moreover that on block No. 3 there was enoiigh of small gold to pay, and declared his beliei^ that if the stream had been in a state to be wovked or turned from its course, and the bottom rock reached, we would have foimd rough gold in paying quantities. ' . (Signed,) EDWARD LYON, Civil and ^Iiniug Engineer. Quebec, November, 1§6^, D. p. FooTB, Esq; . Dear Sir, In conformity with your request, I have visited and examined the gold-bearing property, designated in pink colored lots on the map, being Nos. 6 and' 20, iii th^ Srd and 4th ranges, in the Township of Watford, in the County of Dorchester, in Qtmada East, about sixty miles Eastward of (iuebec. The property has been selected with rare good judgment, and consists of four hundred acres, more or less, in two separate lots about two miles apart, located most favorably upon the De la Famine River, one of the principal tributaries of the Chaudidre, and one of the richest streams, bearing the precious metal, hitherto discovered in this new and interesting Grold'Tield, which now bids liiir to yield a harvest not inferior to California, or Australia. The lots selected are not only rich in gold, but embrace all or nearly all the available water power on this highly important gold-bearing stream. The first fall ascending the river is about forty feet perpendicular, where the whole stream passes through a narrow channel of solid rock, and may, at small expense, be made to turn or drive an urilimited amount of machinery. A short distance above is another fall of about twenty feet, alibrding another admirable mill site. A manufacturing village or town will snonta-neously, and as it were from necessity, spring up here, and the high land on tlie river banlts be very suitable and pleasant for buiWing lots. 'il^hese falls are upon tlie Southern or lower tract ; on the Northern or upper tract is a fall of aWut ten or twelve feet, with an excellent opportunity to cut a race across a narrow point so as to give the greatest security against floods and ice. * ' Ijo djoubt a good amount of gold would be found in digging the above race or canalacross the niarrow point ; (or, from the <^iluvial bank ne'air by, my companion and myself in the space ot a few minutes yrashed out a handsotne amount of gol4{ flcom tl),e clay and gravel along' tl^e water's edge. Washing not infetior to clioici^ 11 the rst fall passes o turn 3r fall illage d the |r tract race ice or inioix g9l4| EDWARD hyOii— (Continued.) Already some pounds weight of lump and nugget gold mixed with coarse anitw have been collected about, and in the immediate vicinity of these fhlls, and it is believed that a very Inrge amount is yet to be taken from tlic deep jiool at tlic bottom iA' the great falls. (tEOLOOY. The rock formation on this p»'operty, and Famine llivor is, composed of claj slates approaching talcose very similar to the gold regions of Novii Scotia, luiving- (juarlz veins, traversing the slates, over these slates, us in Carliforiia and especiallj' at Nevada, are heavy beds of drift or diluvium rich in gold as described as above. Lef California washing appliances be put in operation on this pro|ierty, with good* management, and I have no doubt, hut the extraordinary results of California will follow. Sir William Logan, in his last general report of 18(i3, (sec page 749 — 7 x 5) says that on the Famine River, there is an extensive dcposii of clay everywhere overlaid with sand and gravel, that near the top of the gravel is a stratum of oxidfes of iron and magnesia, about eight inches thick filling the interstices, among the Pebbles, and that gold is found in this overlying gravel, as well as in the clay ben6ath. This I found to be true, and it is highly worthy of attention as a guide or leader in obtaining the gold. I noticed the like occurrence, of a similar stratum in the remarkably rich places at Nevada, in California where very large sums were expended, to bring water to wash down the banks of drift and gravel. Sir William further remarks, that the quantity of gold, in the valley of the Chaudiere ,is such as to remunerate skilled labor, and should encourage the outlay of capital, and strongly urges the Hydraulic process of washing as practised in California, and on Zohoola River and Cane Creek, in Georgia, where says Mr. Blake, many hundred tons of earth and gravel may be removed, and all the gold, contained in it, liberated and secured without pick or shovel, and with greater expedition, than ten tons could be excavated, and washed in the old way. By thisw process, it has been found, that earth containing only one twenty-fifth (./j) part of a grain of gold to the bushel, equal in value to one fifth of a cent (| of a cent,) may be profitably washed, and that any earth or gravel, that will pay expensels in the old wny, by this method is made to pay enormous profit. While on the property under consideration iw order to determine the existence of gold upon it, my companions, and myself, dug from the undisturbed river bank. I would judge that less than half a bushel ofclay and gravel from which we washed, ill the ordinary careless Avay, fourteen (14) grains of gold, or more than half a penny weight consisting of numerous particles of bourse gold, and at the rate of more than a penny weight to the bushel of earth, the gold washed from this small amount of gravel and clay herewith accompaning, this report speaks for itself. We found gold on both tracts, and the river frontage on both tracts will pro- bably extend from a mile, to a mile and a half affording most extraordinary facilities, for reaping the rich golden harvest, on its banks. Subsequently gold may be expected, in the Quartz Veins, below as they traverse the slates in a manner similar to the rich Quartz Veins in Nova Scotia. An excellent stage road leads from Quebec to the mouth of the Famine river,, and thence or from St. Francis below to the property, is a fair common waggon road. The valley of the Chaudiere is one of the most beautiful in America, it is highly cultivated in productive farms, sufficient to afford at a cheap rate, all needftil agri< cultural supplies. Labor too is ocnnparatively cheap, ordinary workmen as I an informed being willing to work for sixty ceuts a day,, and board thiBmselvea. Thert 3' 36 EDWARD LyON—iContimted.) is a saw-mill and grist-mill near the property on a tributary of the Famine, and good white pine lumber on the headwaters of the latter stream. Respectfully submitted by Your obedient servent, ■ (Signed) August, 1864>. FORREST SHEPPARD, Economic Geologist. February 22»irf., 1865. >. Evidence of JOHN GREACEN, Esq., of New York. Are you versed in Geology, Mineralogy or practical mining, or what o|)portu- nities have you had of acquiring a knowledge of the mineral resources of Canada East? I have visited the mining localities in the Seigniory Rigaud-Vaudreuil, and have made enquiries and examinations with refisrence to the value of the Seigniory as a gold-bearing region. I studied Geology and Mineralogy in the usual course of collegiate studies. Are you personally interested in the Chaudi6re gold region? • , . ■ • . ; • Yes, I am so interested. Will you be pleased to inform the Committee whether you hold public or private lands, i. e., if you purchased the lands youhold in the mining country direct from the Government or from private parlies, and also what lands you purchased as Agent for others and when ? I am interested in a lease of the De Lery Patent only. Do you know to what extent the Gold Fields of the Chaudi6re country have been worked and what have been the results ? J have no personal knowledge, except as to the Rigaud-Vaudreuil Seignory ; I think that the Gold Fields lu*ve been worked to a very limited extent, and that considering the amount of work done, and the manner of working, the results are such as to satisfy me of the great richness of the country. Have you ever seen quartz gold, in situ, on the Chaudiere or any of its tribu- taries, if so, will you be pleased to state in what Township or Seigniory, and to what extent ? I have seen gold and silver bearing quartss in two places in the Seigniory Rigaud-Vaudreuil in situ ; of the gold and silver in these two places, I am positive from having personally taken the quartz, and having it analyzed or assayed. I have seen mining quartz veins in the Seigniory — which I believe to be gold and silver bearing quartz veins from their appearance, and from the opinions of experts given after examination of specimens from their veins. In what form is gold found in the localities you are acquainted with, and what are the different modes of working ? It is found in large and small nuggets, grains and scales or dust. The modes of working that I have seen, are working out the gold from the dust, with pans and rockers. Are you able to form any opinion in respect to the management of this branch of the Crown Domain, and of the effect of the gold mining license system, both under the Act of last Session and prior to that Act ? ' ■ " . f I do not feel qijalified to express any opinion. ^ n; 37 have tribu- what niory sitive have silver given I what Jes of and knch both JOHN GREACEH— (Continued.) Have you formed any idea in your own mind as to a better system of developing the resources of the gold region, and, if so, will you please communicate it to the Committee ? I do not feel qualified to express any opinion. Can you iK)int out any special jwints in the Act of last session, which you conceive ought to be amended and how ? I think that the officer in charge ot the Gold Mining division should be em|K)wered to decide ujwn the amount of damages that may accrue in consequence of the ground occupied, the opening of the roads, and other like causes resulting from the operations in working the mines in the seigniory Rigiiud Vaudreuil ; I think the monthly return re(|uired by law too frequent. Do you consider the present size for claihis for quartz mines sufficiently large to induce parties to erect sufficiently extensive buildings for carrying on a quartz mine ? I do not consider them sufficiently large. ■ "^ Do you consider 2J feet front, on any large river or creek sufficiently large for (Uluvial mine claims and what do you consider a proper frontage ? I do not consider 20 feet front, sufficiently large, 50 feet should be allowed to each miner. Do you a))prove of the system now in a practice of not selling the Crown land fur mining purposes or do you think it would be more to the advantage of the country to survey the Public Lands and sell them as is done with the Copper Mines on Lakes Huron and Superior? I think it would be more advantageous to survey the Crown Lan 's, and offer them for sale. An you aware of the system adopted in Australia, California, or any other gold fields, as to the sale or granting of land for mining purposes and how mining operations are conducted ? I am not aware of the systems adopted except that I have been informed that the lands in California are free, the miners themselves making their own regulations as to size of claims, and allotments of watei*. In Nevada, Colorada and Idaho, the discoverer of a quartz lode ; is entitled I think to 400 feet of the lode, which is called, the discovery claini ; the hope of discovering a gootl lode causes many jjcrsons to spend time and labor in exploring. These explorers go in parties or companies and when a new mining rt'gion is discovered they work out, meet together and elect a recorder, and declare that they have organized a mining district, and have named it, say, lluse River district, of such and of such an extent, &c., and then select such claim on the lode or lodes, as such person is entitled to by the mining laws, and customs of the particular region, and the recorder enters them in his register and this entry is proof of title. Are you aware of what has been the practical effect of the De Lery Patent, in the Chaudiere Mining region, and will you be pleased to state in what way it h;is affected operations there ? I think that the practical effect of the De Lery Patent has been to bring into notice the gold fields of the country, and that it has had a favorable effect, upon operations in the district. Do you know what is meant by floatable Rivers ? I consider the meaning of the term floatable, as applied to rivers to mean rivers upon which rafts of timber or lumber and flat boats can be floated safely under the guidance of raftsmen floating upon the rafts, at ordinary stages of water. ;-^ 3S JOHN QREA^CE^— (Continued.) And could not the low lands, in the Valley of the ChaudiOre and ita tributaries, come under the operations of the rule, authorixiuK the Gold Commissioners to grant licenses to mine on all floatable rivers within high water mark ? Under my understanding of the term Hoatuble, I do not thiitfcthat the Chnudi6re and its tributaries are floatable. Would it be likely to moke the settlers assume a hostile attitude to the miners ? X think it would be likely to cause the settlers to assume a hostile attitude to the miners. Do you think that miners have hitherto conducted their operations upon a system of wasteful expenditure of the gold bearing sand ? I think that the manner of conducting mining operations has l>eeu calculated to lose much of the gold. I do npt believe that the miners have saved more than one half of the gold in the ground washed over by them. I do not think that any atten- tion has been given to save the sund. Do you think that gpld bearing quart/ veins exist and if so, of what value ? I know that gold bearing quartz veins exists in the Seigniory Rigaud Vaudreuil. Some of them I believe will prove very valuable. It requires time, labor and money todevelopc ([uortz veins. lam informed by intelligent miners, who have been engaged and are now enjspged in mining in California, Colorado and Nevada, that it is necessary to sink shafts, to the depth of at least 80 feet to form correct views, as to the value of a vein or lode. The miners do not expect to find visible gold or silver on the surface quartz ; they form their judgment as to the value of a lode, from the appearance of the quartz irrespective of visible gold, and if satisfied v.'ith its appea- rance, they sink shafls ujwn the veins, generally exj)ecting to go as deep as 80 feet, before reaching one that will pay a profit ; generally the richness of the ores in- creases with the depth reached, thp average yield of the ores of the most successful mines in Waslioe, is abQutiSO dollars per ton of 2,000 pounds. •;;. • Can you form aj y opinion as to the quantity of gold likely to be taken out in a season ? I have formed un opinion ; I believe that the quantity of gold taken out in a .season will, under proper systematized workings, reach millions of dollars, limited only by the amount of capital labor and skill employed in the working of the mines. .ludging from what has b n done in other Gc'd Countries, the Gold 'Fields of •Canada. East, should yield within five years from this time at least, ten millions of •dollars per annum, if equal chances and opjwrtu'iities, with other gold fields are §iven. the gold fields of Canada East should be second to no others. What dp you think of th^ gold fields of Cajiada, as - compared with those of California and Australia, as regards their relative v»lue? I think that th^e, gold fiields of Caaa^lA.- will prove equal in , value to those^ of Californja and Australia, acre for acre. ■ "-'■''*/ ' - *v i ' ' .1- . ' ' -. ' Can you state the value of black sand washing? I nm cognizant of an assay of a parcel of black sand, wliich yielded at the rate of $.573, per ton of 2000 pounds,, nq gold beings visible in the sand. What is your opinion of the operations as hieretofore conducted, in the Chaodf^re district, as to producing the most profitable results or otherwise ^ I think that they have by no means been. condMCted.30.as to. produce thef most favorable resul]ts„ ,,,, (. . y Are you the Pvesident of the De Lery gold mining Company ? f j' . .? 1 ain. i^. i ' ■'■'■'^'•■- ,^ JOHN GBEA'CEN— rf.) VVIiul is the amount of Stock of said Conipatay, that is, into h6w niaiiy shares is it divided and the nitiount of shares ] 30,000 shares of $100 each. How many instalments have beett called for, and what amount of capital has been paid up ? It has all been paid up. Do you mean in gold, or United States Currency ? United Stales currency. • What are the present intentions of the Company as regards erecting quartz works, and carrying on mining operations ? The Company intend to erect quartz mills, and carry on mining operations. What course do tl\ey intend pursuing with the habitants relative to working on their property under the De Lery jmtent ? They intend pursuing the course, required by the conditions of the patent, in a just and liberal manner. Bv Hon. Mr. McDouuall :— You say in answer to question H, that the DeL6ry patent has had the efTect of bringing into notice the gold fields, and that it has had a favorable effect upon operations in the District. Will you explain how you think it has had these two resxdts ? From the general information I have received, Mr. De Lery, I understand, spent a considerable sum of money in exploring these gold fields; examinations were made, and the reports of them were published. That is one way. I think that another result or effect has been to keep the thing more open to the public, on accouqt of their not insisting too much upon their rights at the time the ground was being developed. Do you know the date of the De Lery patent ? 1846, I believ^e. :i*l W'lcn do you consider from your information that the gold fields were brought into notice ? Tliey were brought into notice then. Are we to understand from your answer that they were brought into notice from the time that the patent wits obtained ? Yes, and since. I do not understand what you mean by its being more favorable to the publiQ than if there had been no DeLery patent. You say that that patent has had a more favorable effect? I mean that the people have gone to work there and have brought into notice under the DeLery patent. My information of course is very much of a hearsay nature, but I understand the people are engaged in working there, and are thus, of course, bringing the thing into notice. Have yon ever heard of some practical mmers there, the Poulins by name, French Canadians ? I have heard of them. They are reported to have foiind a great deal of gold there, T believe 1 ^' Yes. j; Moire gold ihrih' imd6i- the' DeLery patent? I do not know. < • ,.-■'* ..<.' II '* # i I m- III W i'li 4 JOHN GREACEN-(Con«»nM«d.) But what is your information on the subject ? , My information is that they have found a great deal of gold. Are you aware if they have worked under the DeLery patent? They worked on the ground covered by the DeLery patent. Are you of opinion that the gold mines, as we find them there, can be profitably worked, and pay ten per cent, of the proceeds to the Government 1 I think the Eloyalty is too luuch, as a genen.i.1 rule, especially for quartz mining operations. Have you made yourself acquainted with the Grovernment regulations recently promulgated with a system of Liccxise charges? I am not very well acquainted with them, but I have read them. But have you formed in your ov/n mind any comparison between the burthen of the Government exactions on the miner, and ten per cent, under the DeLery patent? Ten per cent, would be the greatest burthen. Then I understand your answer to be that a burthen of ten per cent would be heavier than that imposed by the Government regulations ? I think so. By Mr. Shanley: — Do yau know if there were any license fees under the DeLery patent — any exploring fees ? I io not know. By the Chairman : — Have you been much connected with it ? Not very much. My first acquaintance with it has been very recent. By Mr. Taschereau : — Are you aware that the Poulins, who found gold there, paid a large amount of duty to Dr. Douglas, who held the Seigniory ? I have heard so, but I have no personal knowledge of the fact. By Hon. Mr. McDougall : — In your answer to question twenty you say, speaking of the quantity of gold likely to be obtained thert, " upon condition that equal chances and opportunities with other gold fields are given." What do you refer to ? I refer to public lands. Equal opportunities in m hat respect ? Let the person who first made the discovery be entitled to it for a given time. Is that all you mean ? It is. Let us take California or Australia, for instance, I do not care which. What is the size of claims there ? They are regulated by the miners themselves. Although they may tie nomi- nally small, yet, by a system of combination, they make them large. But they can only take i;p claims of a certain size, I believe ? They take tip claims of di^erent sizes in different districts. The claims vary. . i I 41 JOHN GHEXCEV— {Continued.) When you speak of combination, I understand you to mean that each individual is entitled to a cJaim of a certain size, but that by combination the size of those claims is increased 1 Yes, but under your system, you do not allow parties to combine. Do you understand the practical operation of our system to be that if a dozen parties take up claims, they cannot associate themselves together to work them ? I have so thought from the reading of the law. I should add that this subject is very new to ne ; I have had no time nor opportunity to make any researches in regard to it, and consequently my answers must not be looked upon with too critical an eye. You do not wish to add anything to your answer as to what yon mean as to equal chances and opportunities in the gold lields ? I do not. With reference to your own position ; you are the assignee of the De l.fry patent, whatever that may be. Do you make, in speaking of equal chances and opportunities, any reference to your own position ? I do not. I speak in answer to the general question. The idea I meant to convey was that the great object which we should have in view is to find out if the gold fields of Canada are valuable. The information I have sought to convey is my own opinion as to the value of the gold fields in comparison with others, and I have had no desire to criticize the rules of the government, in reference to the manage- ment of these fields. T wish now to ask Mr. Greacen, whether in the assignment he has taken the right over the unconceded lands of the De Lery seigniory, as well as over the lands that have been conceded ? I have : at least I understand so. 2Srd February. By Hon. Mr. McDougall : — I would like to ask Mr. Greacen whether, as lessee under the De Lery Patent,, he considers himself liable to jwiy the Government 10 per cent upon all the gold he- obtaiiiS, whether alluvial or qilartz ? I am equally liable with Jir. De Lery. And if he WiiSi riot liable, you assume that you are not \ Of course not. 2por- tunities have you had of acquiring a knowledge of the mineral resources of Canada East ] I am not versed in geology or mineralogy. I first went to the gold mining district on the Chaudidre in August, 1863, and have been frequently to the mines on the Gilbert River ; have spent some time in exploring for gold bearing veins of quartz ; have been practically engaged in the mining business for fifteen years. Are you personally interested in the Chiuidi^re Gold Region ? Yes ; I am. Will you be pleased to inform the Committee whether yon hold |)ublic or private lands, i. e., if you purchased the lands you hold in the mining country direct from the Government, or from private parties ; and also, what lands you purchased as agent for others, and where ? , 4B I have puirchtiised no landk, puVIib or private ; liiy itltelrest on th<3 ChbttHiiire is cohtihed tbthe £>e Lery patent. Do you know to what extent the gold fields of the Chandidre country have been worked, and what have been the result 1 The working has been limitied, ahd cannot be considered niuch ; but pt6sp«icting by practical miners, I think the results, in most instances, have been vdry r^^mtt- nerfttive. Have you ever seen quartz gold in situ on the Chaudidre,or any of its tributaries, if so, will you please state in what township or seigniory, and to what extent ? I have seen gold and silver bearing quartz veins in the seigniory of Rigaud- Vaudreiul. Assays made from tWo veins shew this quartz to contain both silver and gold ; I have opened other veins that have not been teisted, that appears equally as good. I have found quartz from six inches to ten feet in width, extending for miles in length. In what form is gold fbund in the localities you are acquainted with, and What are the different modes of working 1 In nuggets and coarse! dust ; the fine gbld is not saved, oWing to the imperfect Way of working, which is with the pan, rocker, long-tom, and some Very im^ffbct sluices. Are you able to form any opinion in respect to the management of this brahcli of the Crown domain, and of the effect of the gold mining system, both under the Act of last Session, and prior to that Act ? !Not being interested in any lands', except the seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudr^uil, I harte not given attention to the Gold Mining Act of last session enough to give an opinion. Have you formed any idea in your own mind as to a better system of developing the resources of the gold region, and, if so, will you be pleased communicate it to the erations there ? I think the De Lery patent has been the means of turning the attention of more miaiog ospitalists tu the Chandidre valley than other thing, and a^ the quartz mining interest of the country will be fonnd to consist in the development anc' working of quaxtz veins, containing gold and silver as in other p;old countries, the alluvial dig- gings will be exhausted in a few years, and are of limited value, whereas the quartz veins may be worked for a long time, and become more valuable as they are more developed. It is impossible to build crushing mills and machinery and work quartz veins fbr gold, except by companies with large capital, and the De Lery patent affords opportunity and inducements for such investments. Do you know what is meant by floatable rivers ? A floatable river is where barges, boats, rafts of lumber, timber and logs can be run, and navigated with safety at ordinary stages of water. And would not the low lands in the valley of the Chaudi^re, and its tributaries, come under the operations of the rule 1 I think they do not. Would it be likely to make the settlers assume a hostile attitude to the mineTs ? I think it likely. Do you think that miners lu.ve hitherto conducted their operations upon a system of wasteful expenditure of gold bearing sand 1 Yes ; I do. Do you think that gold bearing quartz veins exist, and if so, of what value 1 I am fully satisfied that gold and silver bearing quartz veins exist in the seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudreuil, and if sufficient capital is employed in developing them, they will prove very rich and yield large returns. Can you form any opinion as to the ([uantity of gold likely to be taken out in a year ? With proper appliances, and liberal arrangements with the miners, the yield of gold from the Chaudi6re district may be very large, even millions of dollars a year. What do you think of the Gold Fields of Canada, as compared with those of California and Australia, as regards their relative value 1 I have not been in California or Australia, and could not personally draw a com- parison. Can you state the value of black sand washing ? I took a sample of black sand from the Des Plantes River, Avashed out all the visible gold, had it assayed by Professor Kent, of New York, and it yielded $5I3i*fj tothe ton of 2,000 lbs. What is your opinion as to the manner ill which ojierations haVL- been hitherto conducted in the Chaudiere valley — have they been carried on in a manner to pro- duce the most profitable results ? As I have stiited in a former answer, the mining in the Chaudiere valley thus far, is but prospecting ; it is necessary to exjiend large sums of money, and make suitable arrangements to make gold mining profitable and economical ; I think it has not been carrisd on in a manner to produce the most profitable results. -;J! 44 ■ : ■■! 'I 23rd February, 1865. CHARLES L. DeBELLEFEUILLE, of St. Eustache, examined. Are yon acquinted with the Chaudi^re gold mining region and how did you become acquinted with it 1 I became acquinted with it as gold mining inspector, to which ofhce I \yB8 appoin- ted under the provisions of the regulations of 22na April last. What were your duties r.s mine inspector and how long were you employed in that capacity 1 The duties of the gold mine inspector are defined in the regulations cf 22nd of April last and in the gold mining Act of the 30th June 1864<. I was employed from April 22 to 1st December last. Have all the licenses on the Chaudi^ve been issued by or through you or by whom and what course is followed in obtaining licenses or giants for mining purposes ? They were issue by me according to the course prescribed in the regulations and the Act already referred to. How many licenses were issued by you and others ? It was late in the season when the gold mining Act came into operation. The miners had by that time made their arrangements for the summer, and it naturally took so much time before they could be made fully aware of the provisions of the bill, that but few licenses were issued. Two licenses were issued under the regulations of 22nd April last. Forty three private land gold licenses, and 18 crown land gold licenses under the gold mining Act. In your letter of 24'th May, 1864, 'o the Department of Crown Lands, you state that you anticipated trouble among the miners in consequence of disagreements with the land owners. From what cause was it apprehended and did any trouble occur ? As the queries, viz : Nos. 5, 6, 7, relate more or less to the same subject, I shall answer them collectively. At the time my letter of 24th May was written, it was anticipated that there would be a great rush to the gold fields. There was too, at that time some appea- rance of trouble between the land owners and the miners. The latter had held meetings at which resolutions were passed, expressing a determination, on their part, to hold the ground of which they had then possession, allowing only a certain sum, which they themselves had fixed, to the land owners. Believing it, therefore, not unreasonable to anticipate serious trouble if their number should be very greatly increased. I recommended to the Government the formation of a strong police force with the view of checking any unlawful demonstration at its very outset. That the justices of the peace in a rural district such as that in which the mining operations were carried on, would not acfwith promptitude in circumstances so new to them, more especially when they had no force, at their disposal, is an opinion which all experience in matters of the kind, convinces me that I was justified in entertaining. Fortunately the good sense of the miners led them to adopt a less threatening attitude, and the land owners on their part, made some concessions, so that eventually both miners and land owners got on very well together, and I have much pleasure in testifying to the general good conduct and orderly behaviour of the miners during the remainder of the season. The number of the miners did not largely increase as at one time anticii>ated, and no necessity subsequently arose for such a force as I had recommended. In your letter of 29th May 1864, to the Department of Crown Lands, the Magistrates would not act in case of trouble, why would they not act ? Answered by reply to query 4. you say 45 you CHARLES L. DeBELLEFEUILLE— (Continued.) In your letter of same date, you apply for the organization of 60 to 100 mounted police, was such a force organized or was any necessity found for such a force subsequently ? Answered by reply to query 4. arrangements for supply of You also refer to the miners suffering from bad of water, was that remedied during the season and how 1 After a time the mining operations were carried on in a more systeruatic manner, and the deficient arrangements and organization which I took oc ision to inform the government of in the spring, in reference to the supply of water, were partially remedied during the season. You also refer to your requiring an assistant in the discharge of your duties, did you get one or did you find further inconvenience from the want of one 1 When the vast area covered by the Chaudi^re gold mining division is taken into consideration, when it is considered too, that the license to every miner has, accord- ing to the act, to be renewed monthly, and that to obtain accurate information, the operations of the miners have to be closely inspected, it will readily be understood that if there had been a large influx of gold seekers, as was generally anticipated, at the date on which the letter you refer to, was written, I would absolutely have required an assistant, as -it was I experienced but little inconvenience from the want of one. Have you reason to believe that many miners continued to work without renewing their licenses or any worked without licenses at all ? Some neglected to renew their licenses, and some continued to work without licenses at all. The Bill, as already stated, having passed so late in the season and being somewhat different from the regulations of 22nd April, under which the miners had commenced operations, it was difficult at once, to make them comprehend ita provisions. As the season wore on they, in general, evinced a disposition to comply with Jthe law. . ^ . ^ . What decision was come to with regard to miners working in the bed of floatable rivers and what has been the practice in relation to this jwint and what have been the results I The decision come to was conveyed to me in a letter dated 15th September 1864, by which I was instructed to grant Crown Land licenses, to mine for gold, ia the beds of all navigable or floatable rivers, giving the first offer to the settlers, and failing their availing themselves of it, to any persons whatsoever. The season was so far advanced when I received this order, and the rains having set in, only a certain number of Licenses were issued and even these were productive of trouble, for the person claiming to possess the land, although he was not settled upon it, compelled the miners to desist from working. As much dissatisfaction has arisen in regard to this order, I recommended its re-consideration to the department of Crown Lands. The witnesses examined so far have gone so much into detail on this subject that I now say nothing further regarding it, farther than to entreat the committee to bestow upon it their earnest consideration, a^ it involves a question of very grave importance. Do you consider the claims as th-^iy now exist sufficiently large for quartz mines, so as to warrant parties erecting machinery for crushing, &c., or even lar^e enough for alluvial mining ? The general opinion among miners is that the size of the claims is too small. However, as no rich deposits have as yet been found on the lands remaining in the hands of the Government, and as no quartz crushing has heen attempted, no incon- venience has arisen from the size of the claims. . . 46 CHARLES L. DEBELLEFEVlLLE—iContinued.) You recommeucl roads to be made, are you of opinion that fJEicilities, ia going to the Gold Region and leaving it, are advantngeous ? Decidedly so ; Ijut as regards any thing 1 my have said on this head, a full explanation will bo found in my general report. With a due appreoiatioa of the advantages afiurded by roads and facility of access, I may remark that, if these gold regions liad been discovered in some unfrequented part of the earth's surfiuse, where, whatever difficulties the miners might have had in reaching them, they could not by any jpossibiJity have left them, I have no doubt but that they would have been more rapidly developed, ns the miners would have either had to work or starve, and this is all I meant to advance in the passage in my report to which your question seems to point. Have you reason to think that many of those who left the Mining Region on ac- count of their being there too early in the season, did not return at all ? Many of them did not return at all. You say the same pulverised gold is not found on the Chaudidre as in California, do you not think that it is in a great measure to be attributed to the defects in the loose system of mining now carried on ? Partly so, no doubt : as explained in ray report of 30th November, a party made $ I 30 per hour in wasliing, the refuse thrown asi^^.e at the Arst instance on the OiU bert, and, during the summer a parly of minors on the Du Loup, obtained a consider* able quantity of pulverised gold ; improved methods of washing would doubtless lend to still more fitvonraUe results ; but in this regard, it must alvrays be borne in mind that gold mining is but new in Canada, and it canoot be expected that the methods adopted should, in the first instance, be otherwise than crude and inifierfect. From your experience during the past season in the Chaudidre Country, can you suggest to the committee any amendments to the Act of last session (June 64) or the police or other regulations contained therein ? The Act of last session can scarcely be said to have had a fair trial as yet, and when once brought foirly into operation, a case can hardly arise for which it does in some wtiy provide. The claims as I have already stated, are generally considered' too small, but as there has as yet no mining been carried on on government lands, no inconvenience has arisen on that head, as to police regulations there ought to be at least a small police force at the dis|K)sal of tl«s gold mining inspector. Judging from your own personal observation in the mining region, are you of opinion there is sufficient gold deposit there to make the working on a more exten- ded scale remunerative 1 I am fully convinced that ere long the gold fields will be largely remunerative to those who engage in mining operations. As this branch of industry becomes de- veloped, it will be the means of drawing population to the unsettled region in the frontier. It will be a source of wealth to the country, and add largely to the revenue. In the mean time, I would recommend a generous and liberal policy on the part of the government. Gold mining has but just conunenced, and like every other branch of industry it requires fostering in its commencement. A large revenue cannot be at once expected, but it will naturally result from the development of the mines and the settlement of the country, and even already the government has derived considerable sums from the sale of lands which lay dead in the market for more than 30 years previously. With regard to the character of tlie country, and my opinions as to the extent of the gold deposit, I beg to hand you my report of 30th Niovember last, adressed to the Honorable Commissioner of Crown Lands. . .-. ,v . «- ^ .-.. - 41 Bi Bi du an mc pre t9 Q,i wii re i, and is in lereti >, no >e at CHARLES L. I>si»ELlMFEl3UJLEr^(Cmainued.) You spoke of the probability of dificnlty arising. How many men were at work at the time t V About a Tiundred and fifty, I suppose. For wb^t period did tl^at i^^irw^efiiv^ attitude otpntiiijue \ U lasted upout a y/k^k- Was the work much interrupted during the week 1 It was not much interrupted. W^ there anyt|ii|ig like aii ^Lttemj^ at riot ? Or anything beyond an expression^ pf opmipnl Th<9 pi^n hpld meetings p.ud pfifie4 resolutions. Bt Mr. SflANLY — Po y9» res^4e in Q^pb^P ? Isfo, Sif . By THE Chairman — Did you, {^cti|ig uiider orders frpm the Ppp^ment, consider that some ytieamsi le localities you fixen^iqn t ii— «~i-i~'> Pflly thp faniino Ri^ipr. Was it your own belief at the time that it was not properly a floatable river ? I can't say it was. What caused you to act that \|ray, was it aq qrder received from Mr. JudaU t It w^s. By Mr. Taschereau — Hftve you h^en at the Gilbert this wintey I No, Sir. ' , ., ,/ , By THE Chairman — .,..-■/■■.''<■ .:? ' When did you leave (hat locality 1 About the middle of December. >' ' ■> of cten- part j>ther Innot \ines [ived Ithan ^t of the « ANNUAL REPORT OF C. L. DeBELLEFEUILLE, INSPECTOR OF THE CHAUDItJRE GOliD MINES, CHAUDI^RE DIVISION. " St. Francis, Beaucb, 30th November, 1864. " To the Honorable A. Campseli., Commissioner of Crown Lands, Quebec. " Sir. — If we consider the unfavo^bi|^ weather the miners had to luidergo during the months of Septjember and October, this season should be looked upon as an e.^ceptional o^e. Minjers should be a,dyised to leave home about the end of the month of May, in order to arrive at the diggings abput the 1st June, which is the proper time ; previous to that date tKe waters are too high, to allow mining operations to be carried on Vfith any success. " A gJfjeat n;iany miijers cpi^initti^d ai^ egregj^pus. ei;ror ^aX spring by coming up {^tt^l^.^ginning of May: th:e copa^queupQ ^s, they found it ii^possibU to minis^ witlj, a^y supc^ss ; they bfKfa^e. (Sliisq^teDedj^ i;etiuned hpme». aiid spvead such on the a^pajouiQe of ip» qp^nt^* iHi4t the^ ol^eck l^ey hl^jL exp^Kien(se4, as to ^ ' ~ 1^^ frpig ult^n|i^^ viait|f>9 the,i|pjjDes, It i^ a, well-aycirred fii^ct, thf^t 48 fe rii CHARLES L. DBBELLEFEUILLE--(CoMare with, if not surpass, the Cnlifornian or Australian mines. Persons must bear in mind that this is the first year's experience wl have had. In California and Australia it took fully three years before the mines were fully developed, — that is merely mentioning the alluvial mining ; — the quartz mining was not developed until ten years afterwards, that is in California. Let the same time exj^ire here, and T feel confident that the average yield will surpass that of the above-named localities. *< It must also be considered that mere alluvial mining has taken place, and that in a very imperfect manner. Some one remarked last year, that he could not but be struck with the unsystematic and unsatisfactory manner of the works going on here. Since then there lias been no improvement, and the consequence must be that at least one-third of the gold must oe lost. As a proof of what I advance, I shall cite the following case : A man at the Gilbert mines by merely washing the refuse-dirt, has realized as much as $1 .30 per hour. " About five thousand persons visited the mines during the last season, i. e., from May up to this date ; of those five thousand, I do not believe that more than three hundred men have remained here. On an average, two hundred and fifty men have worked from the 1st June on the river Gilbert, and about fifty others have prospected on the different other rivers, such as the Famine, Chaudidre, Du Loup, Metgerraette, Oliva, Kempt, Taschereau, Monument, &c. Up to this date, I com- pute 116 days' labor on the River Gilbert, divided as follows, viz : — 24 days for the month of June. 24 « « July. 24 « «« August. 10 « , " September. 10 «< " October. 24 « « November. "' Total 116 days. " Allowing, at the very lowest, 4 dollars per man per diem, it will at once give lis the sum of $116,000. " As I remarked above, if the unfavorable weather the miners eJcperienced in Sep- tember and October be taken into consideration, also the small space from which that amount was extracted, viz : about three square m-pents, it cannot but prove the immense wealth of this gold bearing region. The success with which the few miners still remaining here meet, is but another proof of the presence of gold in this part of the Province. Only a few days ago one man took out, in one day, nine ounces, and the day previous, the same person had found a nugget of five oz. ; that amount was found in a claim, that had been, as they believed, well worked. Corroborating thereby what I heretofore mentioned, how imperfectly the mining was carried on. " It must be borne in mind, that all this mining has been alluvial, not a particle having been extracted from the quartz. Some persons may seem astonished, that from give CHARLES L. DeBELLEFEUILLE— (Con' mand, contributed daily to diminish the number of miners. " Gold is to be found everywhere from St. Francis to the lines, a distance ol- 4-3J miles ; and if thoroughly worked for, as on the Gilbert river, would be found in as great abundance anywhere. The native gold is coarse, one does not meet with' that fine pulverized gold, as found in California, if so, it is in very small quantities. *' On the River Famine, the gold is also coarse ; it is to be fonnd in slate at the foot of the Falls. Experienced men and geologists entertain a very high opinion of this river, from the formation of its rocks and the general lay of the land ; I shall subsequently give the production of this river, w iUi on a large scale are to be Srosecuted next year by an American Company, whose agent is to remain here uring the ensuing winter. As I remarked in a previous Report, a road from the Falls to Lake Etchemin would be very necessary. " On the Du Loup, in its entire length, gold is to be found ; also a great quantity of black sand, which has yielded as much as 22 dwts. per ton of 2000 lbs. " Some gold has been found at the mouth of the river, which induces a great many persons to believe the presence of quicksilver from the gold found being coated with a coating of silver, and disappearing at a certain temperature. " Prospecting has also been carried on with good results at the ChaudiSre Falls, three or four miles distant from the forks of the Du Loup and Chaudidre Rivers. The agent who was sent here to prospect, informed me that he was perfectly satisfied with the results obtained. " The parties engaged on the Oliva, Metgermette, Monument, and on many other rivers, have every reason to be satisfied with this year's prospecting. On the. Du Loup, and as far up as the lines, different parties have been sinking shafts here and there, and otherwise looking out for good localities, (where they invariably found gold,) to enable them next spring to carry on mining operations, on a scale commen- surate with the expectations they have found by this year's prospecting. Quartz veins are to be found everywhere from the village St. Francois to the boundary line. Gold has been detected in almost every vein ; there is one particularly in the upper part of the 1st concession, not very far from the Gilbert mine, produced by assay, viz. 22 dollars of silver and 15 dollars of gold per ton. This was taken from the surface,— the width of the vein being six feet,— and stripped to the length of 40 feet. Another very promising vein, running North-east, intercepted by numerous small veins running due East and West, exists opposite the church of St. Fmn9ois on the eastern side of the village. It is supposed to cross the river and continue on the western side of the River Chaudi^re. " In the vicinity of the Famine, quartz has also been found.- The mouth of the* Du Loup has also brought out innumerable small veins, running parmllel to each otheri'i in which gold has been found. On the Mill-stream and at the Grand Coudee, both tributaries of the River Du Loup, quartz has been assayed, ^nd found to contain gold.^ I forgot to mention that at the Devil's Rapids, ia, little above St. Francois, numerous lodes, and some of them very large, are supposed also to contain gold ; they here exist on both sides of the Chaudidre. About the Metgermette, and the Oliva, fine quartz is also to be met with. Not very distant from those two rivers, qmttz was' 4 > •ll 50 II li ill I! lilii * !■ CHARLES L. DEBELLEFEUILLE-(Co«m»<«/.) found on tho Du Loup, which having been assayed give 8 dwts. to tlie ton, this was also taken from the surface. Between the Portage and Kempt streams, tributaries uf the Du Loup, two luif:'^ veins are observed, they also contain gokl. A short distance from the Monument lliver, a beautiful vein of quartz is to be seen from which goUl has been extracted, by merely breaking the surface of the quartz with a hammer; the same results were obtained by professor Hinds, — I believe it was about the Met- germette — by merely crushing it with a stone. " Quartz veins are to bo opened and worked next spring at the Village of St. Francois; the Devil's Rapids, where v. crushing mill is to be erected. On the Oliva or Metgermette, there is another mill to be constructed . On the highlands of the Du Loup, and I believe on the Kempt stream, veins will be worked, and that with profit. From the opinion I have heard expressed by several professors of geology, who have visited the mines, and ]>articularly the quartz lodes during this season, I cannot but prognosticate great results to the country by the opening of such lodes, and by the proper development of the mines, which lay buried in this extensive and rich region. There is not the least doubt as to the presence of gold, and that in very large quantities. " Exclusive of the gold ; rubies, garnets, emeralds, pearls and even diamonds have been found. An extensive trade is carried on by the sale of pearls, some of which have commanded very high prices in the New York aud Philadelphia markets. As it is, the results have been great, to this part of the country, by tho introduction of an extensive trade, by the diffusion of knowledge among the agricultural class, and the large sums of money that have been lefl there. Strangers here acquired a knowledge also of the resources, capabilities and wealth this thickly-populated region, which they were far from expecting. " Miners should not embarass themselves with mining tools ; they can be purchased there ns good and as cheap, 1 believe, as can be had. Wearing apparel can also be obtained ; board is to be had from $2^ to $3 per week, and very gootl substantial board. From 30 to 40 men intend passing the winter on the River Gilbert. They intend to do so by carrying on hill tunnelling. This month has been very remunerative to the few miners w^ho have remained here. A nngget of the value of $300 was found lately, and another of $240 was also found during this month. " At the Devil's Rapids an extensive tunnel, about 200 feet in length, has been introduced from the water's edge into the hill, in an easterly direction. I have been unable to ascertain what amount of gold had been extracted from it. I was merely told, that they often fcund the color. For the last two weeks, on account of the sudden rise of the Chaudi^re, they have abandoned their works, but intend continuing during the next season. " On rivers I think the claims should be larger ; they should at least command a frontage of 50 feet to enable the miner to sluice, which he cannot do with a frontage of 20 feet. " As to beds of rivers, considered as Government property, what rivers are navi- gable ? None that I know of, that is, in the summer months. Owners of property on both sides of a river, have they an exclusive right to the bed of the river? Those are questions which should be settled before next summer's operations begin. <' Clauses 28 and 29, already rrferred to in a previous report, deserve the due consideration of the. Government. It would be convenient if a regular license was issued to all engaged in prospecting or exploring for claims ; it should be issued without charge, and to remain good for a fornight, subject to renewal, if it could be proved by the miner tha'. nothing had been found. But I would make it imperative on all to take out such a license, as then the inspector would know where to find any particular party of men. " I would also strongly recommend the opening of roads, as referred to in my previous Report. Sv*// ;^n (^'.^- ■ ■ 'V .,- v. :;'j*. s??^- l»-i! 51 CHARLES L. DEBELLEFEUILLE-(ConiMfrf.) " From the 1st September up to this date, eighteen Crown Lands gold license* have been issued for the bed of the River Famine which produced vthout $500, 1 include the licenses of two miners who left the limits without returning them. " Forty-three private gold license-; were issued from the 1st August, until this date, for the following places: — 22 for the Famine or Watford, 18 for the River Du Loup, and tlucc for the Chaudi6re. 'I'he Chaudidre Falls produced about $78. I cannot yet give a correct return for the River Du Loup, as I am still in want of 10 licenses ; putting these ten licenses aside, we have a sum of $60 00 which would give us a total of $G;)b 00. " Those parties working on the Du Loup and at the Chaudidre Falls did not pretend to mine, but to be merely prospecting ; but as T remarked before, the state- ments must be erroneous, as it is believed they found a great deal of gold. " I hove the honor to be, Sir, , . " Your very obedient servant, « C. L. DeBELLEFEUILLE, ' " G. M. T., C. Division, Beauce. navi- rtyon ise are ie due was ssued be Irative |dany In my REPORT OF J. K. OILMAN. " Stanstead, August 9, 1864. " Sir. — Enclosed are the receipts signed in duplicate for my month^s salary, ending July 31st. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of three books of Crown Land Licenses, three of Private Lands, one of Discoveries, one of Tavern, one for the Registration ^f Claims, one Map of the Eastern Townships, two books containing a list of the unsold Crown Lands in my district, and plans of the Townships of Auckland, Clinton, Chesham, Ditton, Dithfield, Hampden, Spaulding, Woburn and Whitton, three hundred copies of the Gold Minining Act, thirty lithographs of the Eastern Townships, Notices to Miners, one book for letters, and a Canada Gazette. " 1 have been absent the past w-eek, and up to this of the present, visiting places where Gold Mining was said to be going on. I regret having to confirm what your Department has already ascertained, that there is no Gold Mining of any consequence going on in my district, or rather that portion which I visited, being the Townships of Ascot, Hatley, Orford and Magog. On lots 1, 2 and 3, Range 13 in the Township of Ascot, a New York Company have expended quite an amount of labour preparatory for sluicing, when the conditions upon which the purchase was made are complied with, the conditions being that no sluicing should be done except for the purpose of satisfying the parties intending to purchase that there was gold there. The manager informed me that he had not sluiced any since the middle of Juse ; previous to that time he sluiced some parts of days with very satisfactory results, averaging half an ounce to the man per day. He reports an aggregate result of three pounds of gold. The work at the other mines I visited was simply prospecting done at an early period in the season. The parties report that they had made very good shows of gold to the pan. At two places I saw some panning done with results of five to ten cents to the pan of dirt. The parties interested in the various mines I visited speak hopefully of the prospects. They assure me that as soon as the water rises they shall commence work in earnest. There are several reasons that have operated very imfavorably upon the mining interests in this District, — the drought which set in very early in the season, and which still continues, has hindered operations to a very great extent. Another cause, which has had still more to do in bringing about the present unfavorable state of affairs, is the high rate of exchange upon American money. The gold-bearing lands held by private parties in this district were bonded by different parties in the townships during the latter part of last year, and the early part of the present. These parties have sought and made connections with r »» V I tifi'i CHARLES L. DtBELLEFEVlLhE— (Continued.) other parties in the city of New York, Boston and Providence, for the purpose of forming companies for the wording of these mines. Mining stocks went very low early in the season, consequently it was imjpossible to interest parties in the cities, so that with the droUjght, the high rates of Exchange, and the dullness of the stock market, mining operations are at pretty much of a stand-still. I have received, since my. return* application for a private land liceiise in the Township of Ditton. "I snail visit that nortion of my district immediately, and hope to be able to report results which will be more satisfactory. '* I wish to enquire if a discoverer of a mine on private lands is entitled to a free license. <* I have the honor to be. Sir, " Your most obedient servant, JAMES K. OILMAN, " Gold Mining Inspector. ** To the Honorable the Commissioner of Crown Lands." m 11 II Br THE Chairman : — GEORGE A. BROCK, Examined. What is your avocation, and where do you reside ? I am a farmer, and reside in Kingsey, township of Drummond, Canada East. Have you taken any interest in gold mining on the Chaudiere ? I have been there several tinges, and have done considerable work.. How long have you been engaged in it ? The first dat^was in 1861, but I was there twice before that. In 1861 1 remained there some part of the suminer. Were you thwe for the .purpose of mining? I was there exploring rather, and looking about to see if there were any chances. How did you conduct the explorations 1 I tried the small streams and found traces of gold in almost every case. i,--'t Were you a professional miner ? Not then, but afterwards. In 1861 I had a professional miner with me. Were you ever engaged in quartz mining ? In 1862 I leased tliat property of James Douglass on the Chaudidre, to test a quartz vein bearing gold, \ What was the result ? We got out a good deal of gold— some $50 or $60. Can you estimate the quantity of rock taken out? Probaby three or four hundred weight. How did this yield the gold ? We found it mostly in nuggets from the seize of a pin-head to an ounce in weight. Did you attempt to get any of it assayed? .r.^ r= li.iMffi^n* No ; it was sold to Dr. Hall, of Quebec, who was then there. I believe he took the gold to New York, but I do not know what he did with it. How often have you been in that locality since ? j ' ' * In 1863, when I wai^ employed by a company that leased from DeLery and Douz' on the Gilbert. *r ' / •T!>'h& • ■ ' ■• ■ • •• vctm^ las, on the .Gilbeit, jVy,i jiSiilsti iiii^Mi f -v. -< X d3 T rht. »s- GEORGE A. BKOCK— (Continued.) IIow long did yoii remain T From the Ist of August to the 19th of September. Were you there digging and mining ? I was washing. I nad a professional miner with me — we were the first to put up sluices. How many men had you 1 We would average about five. What was the result at the end of the season t We worked some twenty days at washing. We worked at the first for Parker and Hagens. We got out some $500 dollars worth of gold in seventeen days. There was not more than an average of five men at work. Tliere were some eighty or ninety day's work altogether. The gold was worth $18 an ounce. Have you ever examined an Act called the " Mining Act," passed in June last, and are you aw&re of what it says as to mining lots ? If I recollect right, the claims are rather small. I think they are twenty feet or thereabout. Mr. Taschereau : — They are twenty by fifty feet. Examination of witness continued by The Chairman. In quartz mining, what extent of rock do you think would be required to war- rant the cost of machinery ? I am not prepared to say. I never saw quartz mining. I should think it would require a larger claim than the Act has given. "" ' ' '" What is your experience with respect to the license system. Did you obtain a license ? I wanted no license — we had a lease from Dr. Douglas. Who had charge of the gold that was got — was it in your charge ? It was in my charge. Mr. Hartley, the chief manager, who was there, received it from me. Are you aware that the De L6ry Patsnt requires a royalty of ten per cent to be paid to the Crown ? I think it does. Did you examine any rivers except the Gilbert 1 I worked some time on the La Flante and the Famine, the Du Loup, and on some streams running up to the boundary line. I have been on the Arnold. Have you been on the Drolet ? . . • Yes. '•• *v •' t'Ui.-^' -i^fivy.;.,::, » . ■' '. -"■■, ^ Were you there prospecting for gold ? '■"" • •• •' * Yes. . While there did you find any difficulty in relation to the question of floatable, rivers 1 1 did not hear it mentioned at the time. "' -^^ p ?: ». , What do you consider to be a floatable river ? "^ * ' One that floats down logs, rafts, and small boats at any time in summer. You say you saw most of these streams. Now do you consider these tributaries of the Chaudi^re to be floatable 1 Do you consider any of them to be so ? I should hardly think they were. I have seen the Famine quite dry in the summer, and even tlie Chaudidre, above the rapids, so dry, that you could not get along with a small skiff*. « 4; 64 ft ill, GEORGK A. BROCK— (Continued.) That is the main river ] Yes, it is. If, in the spring, the high water mark were taken to be the bed of the river,, and licenses granted accordingly, how would it operate ? It would have rather a bad effect. Do you think it would tend to cause trouble ? I certainly think it would. Were you aware of any commotion last fall on accoimt of the letter issued by the Department in September ? I was not there at the time. V, Where did ycu work last ? On the Gilbert. ■!1 ;i?>v^ Had ycu purchased mining property there ? We were working under the De L6ry Patent, and had made arrangements with the projwietors of the land. We worked there till the 1 9th September. I was once taken up for working on another man's land. Dr. Reed's. What was the result ] He took me before a Magistrate and had m'^ fined in $6, and $6.?^5 costs. Did that end your mining operations ? „ , I did not see tit to stay there longer. I was there as an Agent, but with no powers to show. I filed a Plea, but no notice was taken of it. I was condemned to pay the above fine or go to gaol for twenty days Did you pay the fine 1 Not all of it. VM ^.i7:'i W'M^ >;■■;} 1':- Did you go to gaol ? No. The man, before whom I was brought, was named Foley. An Attorney was brought up from Quebec to act for the p'^.ity who arrested me. It was my opinion at the time that the same Attorney acted as Magistrate, or, at any rate, as Clerk of the Magistrates' Court, Do you think it would be more advantageous for the Government to survey the land in blocks, say 30, 40, or 50 acres, and sell them, than to continue the present system ? I do. . . Why do you thirk so ? r*: , c^t, ,; i ■ . It would caus y j trouble and expense to the Government. Do you think it would tend to encoiirago opening new mines, and bring more riches to the working classes 1 I do. - ' ' ^^ r. \ f What area would you consider large enough ? In my opinion about 200 or 300 feet square. The smaller the stream, the larger the claim requires to be. Do you consider that ten acres would give you a pretty fair claim ? I do. ' i ' / ,,; Do you consider gold milling can be carried on in the Chaudidre ? I think it can. Have you seen any copper or silver ? I foiaid some copper en the Chaudidre, near the La Plante. ,-j.l'(t;v} 55 GEORGE A. BROCK— {Continued.) Was it a favorable specimen 1 Yes, it looked very well. Was it in situ ? It was fixed in a rock, in a large boulder in the same stream. Did you find any quicksilver 1 I understand that some was found near the foot of the Gilbert. In any quantity ? In small quantities. Did you find any pearls 1 I did not find any, but I saw some which came from there. Did you see any quartz the last time you were there ? In the summer of 1862, 1 found some in the bed of the Chaudiere River. In what place 1 At a place called the Devil's Rapidt, at the very head. ^. Have you a good opinion of the quartz ? We did not continue working. We had not the means. Wvui it a quartz vein 1 It was, and I think the vein was sight inches thick, and about ten or twelve feet long. By Mp. Taschereau : — In 1863, when you were on the Gilbert, during seventeen days of labor, you found $500 worth of gold ? Yes. Did you consider the working was carried on in the manner best calculated to obtain all the gold ? It was curried on by washing. We had no quicksilver, ami we considered at the linie that we lost a good deal of fine gold on that account. In speaking of (xovernment lands do you think government has got mucli land there nou I I do iK)t know. They have lands in the township of Watfoiti. When you wore arrested, were you working under letters i>:iU'. it ? ' - ■ T was put there to work by Parker & Kerr, who held the h'usc^ By Mr. Pope : — When you took out 300 or 400 weight of rock quartz, from which you got $50' or $60 n'orth ol gold, do you mean to be understood "to say that you took out all the gold ? We did not. I think there was gold still lefl in fine particles, which we could not extract because we had not proper machinery. A California miner, who was with me last ' What conclusion did you ''ome to as to the quartz of the gold fields ? I came to the conclusion t.'iat there was quite sufficient an amount of gold to make working remunerative ; 67 of to JOHN LTSDS AY— (Cimtinued.) What do yon understand of the term " floatable river ? *• I understand by it, a stream on which yon can float down saw logs at th« ordinary Water level. You do not mean during the spring freshets 1 Not at all. In that case half the farms in the valley of the Chandidre would be flooded; yon could not define the high water-mnrk. What is the character of the river valleys in that section ? They are overflowed in spring. Is that a characterestic of the valley of the Chaudi^re 1 Yes. Is it overflowed nearly every spring? It is. Is the land in the vicinity heavily limbered 1 It is pretty heavily timbered. Are you aware of any dispute or difliculty arising in the gold fields ? Yes, I am not exactly aware of what occured, but I heard of it. Did you not see any of it ? -'n I only heard of it. What tributaries of the Chaudi^re do you consider floatable ? T do not think there is a floatable river amonsr all its tributaries. , ; Can you name any of these tributaries? There is the Du Loup, the Oliva, the Tascherean brook, the Melgcrmette, the Lindsay brook, the Monument stream, the Portage and the Travellers' Rest. As fur as you know, these tributaries are not floatable ? I do not consider them to be so. < By Mr. Taschereau: — ' Do you consider the River du Loup floatable? No, sir. I have seen it nearly dry, in summer there are some parts you can walk over without wetting your boots. I don't consider the Drolet stream floatable. Suppose a man owned one hundred acres of land on each side of the river — that is to say: the river flowing through it, the patent covering the whole quantity in the description, to whom would you consider the river passing through such land belonged? I would consider that it exclusively belonged to the man who owned the land. You would conceive in such a case that Government had no right to lease any portion of the bed of that stream for gold mining? Certainly not, on tlie irihutavics I have mentioned. Do you consider the land on each side of the river flooded in the spring by heavy rains should rensonably be considered the bed of the river? I should think not. ,,. :- . If you were surveying and found it flooding the adjacent land, on each side, what would you consider the bed of the river? If I were surveying, at high water, I should, after working out the lines of the high water, endeavour to ascertain the ordinary water mark. Perhaps you could tell us what is the extent of the Chaudidre gold fields, the average or the number of square miles ? ' 'il 68 JOHN LINDSAY— (CoM/enw^i.) I have made no calculation, the fields cover an immense area no doubt, fro'.ii the head waters of all these tributaries that flow into the Chaudidre and Du Loup. But I iiave never attempted an estimate, though I could do so in a very short time, as I am at present compiling a map of that part of the country. I^lljl Bt Mr. Taschereau— What is the character of the country and the land ? The general character is hilly ; the timber is mixed, in some places along the Lambton road. There is very good hard wood, at the head waters of these rivers, towards the boundary line. The timber is spruce and birch, and is very thick. By THE Chairman — Are there many lakes and bodies of water in this region ? In the direction of Lambton, going west, from the Kennebec road, there is a grea* number of lakes. Is the formation granite ? No ; it is slate with quartz veins in many places. What per centage of the country would you consider fit for settlement ? I should think about half, this is including then all the land as far west as Lake Megantic. In some places the land is very barren, in other places very good. la the good land chiefly in the valleys ? Yes, principally. On the Lambton road there is a good deal of very good land, in places j it is pretty well settled, too. Bt the Chairman — GEO. H. RYLAND, Examined. Where do you reside ? , , In Montreal. ) ' ' ■ ; , What is your profession ? ^ , I am registrar. 'i ■.:■-.> 5 r^ Hvive you ever paid any attention to this subject of gold mining on the Chau- diire ? I am part owner of a large tract in the neighbouring Township of Buckland, and feeling a great interest in this matter, visited the Chaudiere and got as much know- ledge as I could of the means of procuring gold. As far as you ascertained when you visited the place have you reason to believe that the working is remunerative ? Yes, certainly. I visited the Gilbert and saw men taking up gold in remunera- tive quantities. On one of the small streams three men took out in the course of 24j hours about 100 dollars worth of gold. What number of men do you think there were at work ? C On the Gilbert there were 120 men, probably more, this was in the month of June last year. Did they appear to be satisfied with the results ? " '" ""' Yes, they certainly did, one party had got up their sluices and were working satisfactorily. Were you convinced from what you saw and heard that the miners were doing well? Yes. ' " 'r -^t'.--.. ■ ■ - '■' ■:* '»'■' i" '•-^''.•. - 59 fro'.ii Du very J the Lvers, IS a Lake land, Jhau- and now- ieve iiera- )f 24- thof dag oing GEO. H. B.YhAND'-(C . .*« , . ■ Yes. . , . : , .-, ■■;;,.';•: v. Bt the Chairman — ' How would you regard the application of the term " floatable," to the upper tributaries of the Chaudidre ? It could not apply it in any kind of way, it could not apply to the Chaudi^re itself. I think it unreasonable and improper to attempt at this late period, when the pro- prietors have been in undisturbed possession for a quarter of a century, to put forward the claim that these are floatable rivers. Would you regard it as unreasonable that land ou the river banks, occasionally flooded should be regarded as the river bed 1 T don't think Government could do it unless by Act of rarliainent. Bt Mr. Pope — As regards yourself, do you think Gov^.;'.^-> >•''.♦-;, Did yon examine it and if so what is its character ? I did not see any gold in the quartz, but it looked very favourable for gold. How did you find the alluvial diggings where you worked? We got there in the rainy season, and the water was high in the stream. It was a bad time for work. We tried two places on the Oliva, and got a very favou- rable prospect. . , , . Had you any reason to regard it as equal to the other ? . , , ^ ,, . Yes, I think the Oliva is as good a stream .to work p the other.. Did you work in the alluvial? ^ j. ^ ,,,1 Yes. M t •;i /;■ ' 1 1 \ ii i !• i 'i 1 I 62 JOn^ KELLY— (Continued.) i* • Did you work on the Du Loup ? Yes, for ten days. Did you find the result favourable ? Yes, very favourable. Was it in the alluvial? It was. Any quartz 1 Yes, there was. What were the indications in the quartz ? It looked very well for gold ; but the gold was not visible to the naked eye. What colour was the quartz ? ^Some of it had a yellow tinge. What others rivers did you examine 1 The Monument Stream ; the Famine ; the Veilleux ; the Flamand and the Abenaquis. Can you tell us the result of the examijiation 1 u< r»:»V We got out in the month of November ; there was a good deal of rain ; and the water was too high to do any thing. The Famine River, as far as I could, see is a good river, and looks well for gold. The Abenaquis is a good looking Eiver, on the forks, especially the south fork. Did you find gold in all these places 1 The water was too high and we could not prospect ; we could not get down. From the experience you have had in California, Australia and New Zealand, what is your opinion of the Chaudi^re region ? My opinion of these mines is, that if they were worked sufficiently, the result would be very favorable, and perhaps they would turn out to compete favorably with other mines in other gold regions. Do you think they can be worked profitably ? -! / ' Yes ; that is my opinion. During the time that you were at work, did any disturbance arise about floatable rivers 1 I heard there was some little disturbance on the Gilbert, but I, being rather higher up, did not hear the result. Had you anything to do with working under the De Lery patent ? ""it -' -M :. I do not think so. . .:•:',■.'}':■$•. What is the custom in these countries you have been in, as regards the beds of rivers — did they give licenses exclusively for the beds of rivers, did you ever know it to be done 1 The beds of rivers are worked the same as other parts. , ... ., . , k , By the Chairman : — What was the extent of the mining lots in Australia, both alluvial and quartz? I cannot exactly tell you about the quartz, as I happened to be one of the unlucky ones, and never entered much into the quartz business. On the sluicing claims we have had 100 and 150 feet of ground, by the width of the creek. What do you mean ? I mean from bank to bank of the streams. r^i^i ft^tii.^t k 180 feet along the shore ? To a party of four. 63 JORfi KELIjY— (Continued.) What fee was charged for that claim 1 A pound a year. That included tlie total expense to the miners, for claims, and protection, as well as the right to work? Yes. But any party leaving the country was taxed half a crown an ounce for all gold he took away with him out of the colony. That is a duty on the gold 1 ' Yes, an ex^wrt duty. What was the usual custom of the miners there ; was it to export the gold on finding it, or keep it? The generality sold it in the country, and those leaving generally took it to London, and sold it there. London, England ? Yes. By Mr. Shanly : — ':,',i4 ''i i-'i •'<^i,i-' i.s .rti(.iJji;iu_V Were there any assayers at the mines ? No. I never saw any. By the CHAmMAN : — How often were the licenses required to be renewed? They required to be renewed, at that time, every three montlis. .^f'i Was that in 1856. How long were you in Australia ? About seven years and a half. Between what years? ;f': i' h'- : . I arrived there in August, 1853, and, I think, it was in 1859 I left. Were several changes made in the regulations during that time ? v -/ , Oh yes! A great many. -,'. What were the regulations under which they commenced working in 1853, as to licenses and fees 1 We commenced under a license for two pounds for three months. Was that for the same area of ground which you have described ? '' Yes, and it continued in that way for from twelve to eighteen months. Afterwards the miners objected to pay such a heavy license, which caused the riot at Ballarat. Subsequently, they put a duty on gold, and charged a pound a year for miner's rights. There was no duty on gold dicovered unless it was exported? No. What was the system in California when you were there? In my time in California there was nothing asked from miners, but a poll tax $3 if you paid it at the Collector's Office, and $5 if they had to collect it themselves. For what space of ground was this charged 1 It was not according to the space but for the year. ■:;/ vv t 'i •.-. 'i ,i • 1 1.' *, Explain the system? The charge was according to the richness of the claim, as the claim increased in richness, the area granted was diminished, and I have kaowa the claimiS beiog so rich that a man was only allowed eight feet of ground. 14 vii: fci?u^'.v /i ruj ji': I'' ',^.u In some cases. It would be less advantageous in alluvial than in uuart/ mining f Yes. What were the regulations in respect to licenses in New Zeelaud ? I did not stop to work the mines there. I just visited them, and when I was there, the natives were troublesome, and so we returned. Those, who went to work, found ' y good claims ; but the natives were so hostile that they came down and run them out. You did not stop there then ? I returned to Attckland and shipped^ \ii •■ji-'-jt a- You stated that the mining lots in Australia were the beds of rivers i Some were bed claims. Some were in the banks, and some at the creeks, and on the high land. Do you understand this matter, a good deal discussed here, with regard to floa- table rivers. Whfet do you understand by them 1 My undersianding of them is, that a floatable river is one on which you can pass boat, rails, or small vessels at any stage of water. At those places in Australia, which you have mentioned, and where the beds of rivers were taken as claims, what was the description ol'the land or each side of the rivers. Was it settled ? i No. Not at those which 1 have seen. Did they belong to the government ? •, ,-. „ < ;■ i \^.i. ; ,- , Yes. '' ^ ..:' -. -..,-. Did this mining interfere with private rights ? : ; No. .1 u. Where did you work on the Du Loup ? I worked on the Monument stream, and at the others last spring. I worked on the Du Loup about six or six and a half miles above Jersey Point. Tell us what the result weis, and where you worked, whether it was on the mining lots 1 '^''* We sluiced on the Du Loup and got a very fair prospect. By Mr. Taschereau — ., .. it On what part of the Du Loup 1 Well up towards the Moniun«nt steanii near the head of the Pu Loup. 65 Do JBy THE Chairman :- JOHN KELLY— (Continued.) AVus it near or below tlie junction ol tho Monument and Du Luup streams? Above it. How fill- ? A considerable distance. How many miles — do you think it was ten or more? Where did you work o% the Oliva ? About six and a half or saven miles from the main road, up the stream. How liir is that irom the mouth — six, eight, or nine miles ? Just at the mouth. <-i,i. • ■■] O. A. RUSSELL, Examined. ■s'M on the By THE Chairman: — Where do you reside ? In Quebec. Have you ever been employed in gold raining ? I have been engaged in gold mining. Where? • ! ■ ' ; ' In California, Oregon, and in the Chaudi^re region. Were you long so engaged in those places ? From 1849 to 1857 in California, and a part of IS. Y in Oregon, just on the line. How long were you engaged on the Chaudidre 1 I first visited the Chaudidre, I think, in May, 1861. ' Would you state to the Committee, in general terras, the result of your working and explorations on the Chf di6re — at what places did you work, and with what results ? I first visited the ChauajtHW in May, and prospected. I had no tools with me, and I merely went ovei the ( fry to see if the state of the water were such that I could prospo<"f tlip rivers, > a.ms, creeks, and tributaries. I found the water high, and left without prospecting. About three weeks after I went up there with a set of tools and prospected. I prospected on lUii Du Loup and Motgermette. I washed a few pans of earth at the Gilbert. What was the result? I merely prospected on the Metgermette. I found gold enough to lead to the belief that a first rate miner would mak j there from eight to twelve dollars per day. On the (Gilbert I only washed a few pans of dirt, at the opening of a pit ; it gave about fifty cents to the pan. If it would average that sum, it would pay forty or fifty dollars a day. The prospecting I did on the Du Loup was at a place selected. I could reach the rock easily. I afterwards employed Kelly to prospect this spot, with a rocker and pan. Last year he was employed by the Company merely in prospecting. The works were not laid out for decided mining. You made an examination merely 1 You could hardly call it regular mining. According to what you say you found the result favorable ? We did, on the Du Loup, Metgermette and on the Gilbert. Did you examine the Famine, and did you find it equally rich with the others Xdid. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 2.5 12.2 2.0 1.8 [■25 1 • 1 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" ► Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 mo i/.x 66 O. A. RUSSEhL—^Coutimtcd.) Do yoii believe that gold mining there could be carried on successfully ? Yes. How does it compare with the gold mines in Northern California and Oregon? I worked on the Carson's Flat, being about five miles from it, when the mine there was discovered, and I was one of the first that went to that field. At that time there were Mexicans working, and it was merely " prospecting." Before the discovery of tiie mine I « prospected '^ tliere, and found the result not as favorable as that I met with in prospecting on the Gilbert. Afterwards, however, there were great dis- coveries on Carson's Flat. Are you at all acquainted with mining in quartz" I worked in quartz in California. Have you seen any gold-bearing quartz on the Chaudi^re ? Yes, and very favorable. Have you known of any being assayed, and with what result? I was present when Professor Hind saw the quartz found at the Du Loup. We took it from its place, crushed, and worried it. I saw gold in it ; but I have worked quartz in California in which one could not see a particle of gold, but which would still produce enough of it to pay. Do you think the present claims or licenses are large enough or are too small ? • They should be larger on a amall stream than on a large one. What was the extent of the claiins in California ? I have had a mining claim on a flat, ten feet square, with a margin of two feet on the square, making fourteen feet altogether. I have worked also on creeks, where they would allow three hundred feet of a claim ; but a claim en a stream, like the Gilbert, in California, on the first working of the mines there, would be from fifty to a hundred feet, depeading to some extent on the richness of the claim. What do you think of the charge or fee imposed on the miners for licenses ? Is it low enough, or should it be higher ? I should not think the fee objectionable ; still they attempted onco, in Califor- nia, to tax the miners six dollars a month. The miners could pay a poll tax, or a road tax, or a school tax ; but would resent a tax on them as miners. They never could enforce the tax of six dollars a month, or any similar tax upon them in Cali- fornia. They only attempted once, I think, to tax all miners six dollars a month, and that was in 1863. It was only the timid who would pay the miners' tax, such as the Chinese. An important point has been raised here as to what is a floatable ri^'^er — that is in regard to the Chaudi^re river — what is your opinion as to what constitutes a float- able river 1 I should not think the Chaudi^re was a floatable river further up than St. Francois. Have you examined its tributaries ? I have been on the Famine, the Gilbert and other tributaries. Would you take these streams to be floatable rivers ? No. In the highest stage of water, you could not float a log on them. In the course of your explorations up there, did you come across silver or copper 1 I have seen copper pyrites, In any considerable quantity ? No. It was common, though, in small particles. I have assayed and taken quartz from the Township of South Ham, on lot 26, 2 range, and found an ounce and a PJ m th W( ar I? liere lie re ryof met dis- We orked would alii vo feet creeks, stream, »e from Is [Jalifor- ix, or a never in Cali- Imontb, such liat is in la float- lian St. jopper 1 taken :e and a 67 O. A. RVSSELIj— (Continued.) half of gold to the ton. There was copper in the quartz, and it looked like gold, and might have been mistaken for gold. I sent the quartz to professor Hayes who reported that it produced an ounce ami a half to the ton. I had afterwards other assays made. ' , . , r i,v. By Mr. Shanly : — Was it quartz carrying copper ? Yes, I assayed about 50 lbs. of quartz. One assay gave nine dollars a ton, and the otljer fifteen dollars of gold. By THE Chairman: — „ '- /,-.":''ri i^:. • •*'•■-'■'? -^' At what river? ^'^ •' v '■• ^'--■^ ^ :- r:^ >.:.;«■■ •>-'; »r,>n In the Township of South Ham. That is the only assay I made there, for gold. By Mr. Pope .— You sry you worked on Carson's Flat ; how did that compare with the diggings made when you were on the Gilbert River ? At my first visit to Carson's Flat, there was sc£ rcely anything being found. The rich mines were afterwards discovered. When I first went there, the district was like the Gilbert now, but not so rich apparently. The mines aflerw&rds turned out very rich. By Mr. Shanly :— ^u.' ' ^V^''-^'^ • '■ How far would you have to go to reach the bed-rock t A shaft would have had to go doun about thirty feet, at Carson's Creek, from which the lodes extended back half a mile and then ascended. The largest or mother-vein of quartz was on Carson's Hill. The vein was about fifty to a hundred feet wide. By Mr. Pope: — And extended how far ? Hundreds of miles, doubtless. By Mr. Shanly : — Was there ample water on these creeks 1 In €.ny dry season you could use the creeks. Is it black sand on Carson's Flat ? The same as here — very similar to the soil of the Gilbert. By Mr. Pope:— In speaking of your experience you said there was not any quartz 1 No, it was river-digging. At the mountain it was a quartz-vein. Do I understand you to say that, when you first went there (California) the prospect was not as good as at your first trial on the Gilbert 1 No, I found no inducement to remain at Carson's Flat. When you went afterwards it was much richer ? There had been a discovery in the meantime, and a piece of gold found weight- ing nine pounds ; that was considered a sufficient attraction. I want to compare our country with California in this respect. Mr. Wolfe told us that the diggings on Carson's Flat were richer when he went there than when you were there. Do you think our diggings on the &ilbeil,and in that section of country are likely to be found richer sometime hence. 5» ' I- 68 O. A. RUSSELL-.(Co«.' Was it in alluvial or quartz mining I I was engaged in both. Have you examined the Chaudidre gold mining region? Yes, to some extent. Have you been engaged in working mines, on the Chaudi^re ? I have not worked on any as. yet. Judging from your experience, in California, and your examinations on the Chaudi^re, what is your opinion of the latter? . I think the mines in this region bid fair to be remunerative. v What portion of the Chaudi^re country have you examined ? I have been on the Gilbert, Kemp, Spring, Oliva, Da Loup, and the Victoria. My examination has been hastily and imperfect owing to the flood. When was this? ■'"'' ' "'' '^ ' :"' In October and November ^ast. You only saw those streams, in the foil, at the time of the freshet ? Yes. 'V What is your opinion, as to the size of those mining claims, do you think they should be larger or smaller? I should advocate larger claims. ' 6» /,'■ '• ,000 on'sr rich mpw irhole IV his think >. on the lictoria. they EDMUND B. HOOD— (Conttnwed.) Do yon think larger claims would be calculated to induce miners tu come here, and set to work ? I think so. In what way would it be advantageous to them ? To mine to advantage, it requires a' number of men to associate together in partnership, and if you confine them to a small claim, it would soon work out. So it would give greater facilities for profitable mining. Yes. Those claims you speak of are alluvial, what would be the extent of quartz claims ? I have never known one, less than 100 feet, by 25 feet on each side, which gives you the necessary room to put up a cabin, and make any kind of improve- ments you need, and room to store av/ay the waste dirt, which it is necessary, to send up at the commencement of operations. Some express an opinion that rich quartz is seldom found, or are not tr be expected near the surface, how did you find it? It changed like every thing else, I have seen quartz of this kind, taken right from the surface, and worth $8,000, to the ton, one lode in California was worked out a distance of 1,000 to 1,200 feet and to the depth of 50 feet, but the atmospheric action had in part, decomposed the rock. One hundred feet on" the lode, and 25 on each side affords proper facilities for working? Yes. ' Did you find quartz in the Chaudidre Region ? , I did. . ' ■ Had you any assayed 1 Yes. 'i.-'l;-- What was the result 1 , i •"■ f . , The highest was $89 14, to the ton. . > v . i Where was that, found 1 I cannot tel' you, the person who was with me last full had everything left to him, he made out a list of localities from which gold was taken. Bt Hon. Mr. McDouGALL : — Is his report published 1 Yes. V -. :;/ ,,/.- .v\^/-. Bv Mr. Shanly : — What sort of quartz have you seen here, what would it pay ? About $20, to the ton of rock. By the Chairman : — Is there a large extent of that gold bearing quartz which Professor Wurtz found, at the place whence he took it ? I cannot tell where he found it. Is quartz abundant through the Chaudi^re Region ? I consider it is, between the Portage and the Kemp stream, there are six veins, within a distance of 1000 feet. 70 11 :.»! EDMUND B. HOOD— (Continued.) Did you ever examine them, to see what they would amount to? I never had any analysis made, not having the necessary tools. Bt Hon. Mr. Macoougall : — Professor Wurtz has made explorations, in the Chaudidre region, and given us a practical statement respecting them, bht with respect to your own examination you must have met with quartz, which you can say was gold bearing ; now what is your opinion in regard to gold bearing veins, in the section of country through which you passed, are there such, and are they plentiful '( Yes, tlxey are plaintiful, the quaitz lies in beds, that extend for several miles, towards the mouth of the Gilbert, then, there seems to be an intermission till you get up to St. Georges church, where it crops out again ; then at Mill Creek, it once more crops out, as it does also, beyond Traveller's Rest. Do you know those cropping rocks to be gold bearing or are they merely ordinary quartz 1 They have every indication of being auriferous, they have cavities, that shew oxidation of metallic substances has taken place. How do those quartz veins compare as to size with those you have seen elsewhere 1 Very well. BtMr.PoPE:— -_.,>!--;,:.. '^ :.";,j;-iffK>r,';, v,'. ;r; ;:.nJ i:..: ■:-• You speak of the cavities, in the quartz, are they always sxue indications of gold? Not always. i ' ^ ,j In nine cases out of ten, when you find these cavities, what proportion of the quartz is gold bearing ? You might examine ten such pieces of quartz and find no gold, while the next piece would be a fine specimen. Here it is the i)ractice to give out licenses extensively for the beds of rivers. Did you in other countries ever know it to be done ? The beds of rivers are worked the same as other parts. ' ; ' ■■•■ - ^ >' By Mr. Taschereau : — Are thay all government lands, in those countries you mention ? , , There are some private lands also. v. 21th February, 1865. Evidence of S. J. DAWSON, Esquire, Three Rivers. What opportunities have you had of acquiring a knowi dge of the mineral resources of Eastern Canada ? During the summer and fall of 1863, and since that period, I travelled a great deal through the Chaudi^re Gold Mining Division. From the opening of the navigation in the spring of 1864", until its close, and even up to the present time, I I have constantly had parties exploring, surveying and " prospecting " in different parts of the country, and, in two instances I made the experiment of sluicing in situa- tions far beyond where it had ever been attempted before, that is, much further to the south. ' - Are you personally interested in the Chaudidre gold region ? < ;..i;' /i I am. ,-,.-. .....,,.,.._,.. ,:• v-.:^ .vic. '.- r us a ition at is hich ailes, ttget mote erely shew seen sations tion of e next rivers. 1865. Mineral jlled a lof the (time, I IfFerent situa- kher to . S. J. DAWSON— (Continued.) Will you be pl'^ased to inform the Committee whether you hold public or private lands ? If by public lands you mean lands purchased directly from the Crown, I hold such lands ; I am also possessed of lands purchased from private individuals, but I hold no public lands under license. „ Are you aware of the course followed previous to the Act of last Session m Government lands for mining purposes 1 It was only during the season previous to that in which the Act you refer to was passed, that the Gold Fields seriously attracted the attention of the Government. Before that time, with the exception of the short-lived regulations of the 22nd of April last, nothing, so far as 1 know, had been done towards establishing mining regulations ; iioi* were the circumstances such as to require any particular action on the part of the Government. That gold was to be found in small quantities over a wide area, was a fact which had become generally known, from the reports of the Geological Survey, and it was also known that works of some magnitude had at one period been carried on, with varying success, but on the whole profitably, on the Rivers Du Loup and Famine. It was not, however, until the summer of 1863, that the proofs of the remarkable richness of the alluvial deposits in some localities and the auriferous character of the quartz generally, throughout the entire region, became so convincing as to render legislation necessary, and this led, in the first instance, to the regulations of last April, already referred to, and ultimately to the passing of the Act of last Session. Previous to that period, settlement had advanced but slowly, more especially in the townships near the Province line. The lands in some of these townships had been surveyed, and in the market, for upwards of thirty yearS| and yet they were neither sold nor settled : many lots indeed which had been granted to pensioners and others for military services, had been abandoned, and in some instances I have found it difficult, and in others impossible to trace the owners although I had instituted inquiries with the view of purchasing their lands* Recently, the unconceded lands have been rapidly taken up, and the discovery of gold will not have been without its advantage, if it should have no other effect than that of drawing settlement to the townships which have so long lain waste and unproductive on the frontiers of the Province. Can you explain the course now followed in obtaining licenses, securing rights or claims for mining purposes ? It is simple enough, or at least was so be fore the ofticc of guUl mining Inspector, which was ])rovided for in the regulations of last April, as well as in the Bill of last Session, was done away with. "\\'liile that office was in existence, it was only necessary to apply to the Gold mining Inspector for licenses to mine, either on publio or private lands. The Crown Lands license authorized the holder thereof to stake out his claim wherever he saw fit on the public lands. This system, I think, is objec- tionable, for reasons which I shall explain in answering the I2th query. In the mean- time I may remark, that, in my opinimi, the license sfumld specify the precise ground u-hich it is designed to cover. Can you give the Committee an idea of the extent of the gold fields, and character of the country 1 As regards the extent of the gold fields, Sir Wm. Logan, the Director of the Geological Survey of Canada, in his general Report, published in 1863, remarks as follows, (p. 739) : " The auriferous drift of Eastern Canada is spread over a wide area on the south *' side of the St. Lawrence, including the hill country belonging to the Notre Dame " range, and extending thence south and east to the boundary of the Province. These *♦ wide limits are assigned inasmuch as although gold has not been everywhere fourid •* in this region the same raineralogical characters are met with throughout, and in M 72 S. J. DAWSOIA— (Continued.) « its continuation southward in Plymouth and elsewhere in Vermont, considerable « quantities of gold have been obtained from the alluvial deposits. In Canada, j^oUl *' has been found on the St. Francis river from the vicinity of Melbourne to Sher- "brooke, in the townships of Westbury, Weedon and Dudswell, and on Lake 5>t. " Francis. It has been also found on the Etcherain, and on the Chaudiere, and « nearly all its tributaries from the Seigniory of St. Mary to the State of Maine, ** including the Bras, the Gnillaume, the Rividre des Plantes, the Famine, the Du « lioup, and the Metgermette." In another Report, he says: — "It may be said that the auriferous drill has been " shewn to exist over 10,000 square miles on the south side of the St. Lawrence, com- " prehending the prolongation of the Green Mountains into Canada, and the country ** on the south-east side of them. In following the range of this drift north-eastward " the researches of the survey have not extended beyond Eteheniin lake, but the ** general similarity of the rocks beyond renders it probable that but little change will " be found for a distance extending much further, perhaps to the extremity of ** Gasp6." In a previous report he remarks that: "Along the whole line it seems to be •* associated with, or in the vicinity of rocks strongly characterized by magnesia ; such «* as dolomite, talc, and chlorite slates, and at the same time marked by the presence ** of chromic iron, titaniferous iron, and rutile. It is found in similar associations in *' other countries, and the description of the Ural Mountains, for which we are « indebted to Sir R. J. Murchison and his companions, shews that these characteris- ** tics are conspicuously displayed in that auriferous region of Russia, where gold is *' accompanied by platinum." Recent discoveries have borne Sir William out in his hypothesis as to the exis- tence of gold much farther to the north-eastward than are any of Iho localities at which it had been discovered at the time he wrote. lam credibly informed that, during the past session, it has been found on the upper St. John and on the Daaquam, one of its tributaries taking its rise in the Township of Langevin. Also, in the Townships of Standon and Buckland as well as on the river dn Siul in the Township of Mailloux, and still further to the north-eastward on various rivulets l)ot\v;^en river du Loup (en b's) and the Temiscouata lake. In regard to the second part of your question, namely, as to the character of the country, I believe it would be difficult to find a country in some respects more attrac- tive. It is, however, a region by no means possessing unqualified advantages. In an agricultural point of view, it would in general be considered too hilly, and yet there are wide areas of cultivable laud, and, even on the hill tops, the soil, although Stony, is said to afibrd excellent crops. The rivers in general are not and never can be made navigable, and the face of the country presents difficulties, but not insurmountable ones, to the construction of roads. In many places the high lands spread out into plateaux affording a moderate extent of level land, but in such cases the ground is sometimes swampy. In others the country is broken and might even be called mountainous, but it, nevertheless, presents few of the forbidding features common in the gneissoid region north of the St. Lawrence. In the latter the rock i.s highly crystalline and of a nature which disintegrates slowly, yielding, when it does so, but a poor soil ; and in that region, craggy hills, precipitous escarpments or decli- vities encumbered with masses of rock, are the prevailing characteristics. On the Chaudiere, the rocks in the lapse of time have crumbled into a tolerably fertile soi!, so that the hills have ia, rounded outline, and are both on their slopes and summits, in general susceptible of cultivation. The valleys in sonle places are eizceedingly narrow, hemmed in by high lands ou either side, in others they open out, affording considerable areas of alluvial land. ' nam, the v^nship river of the ttrac- In id yet lOUgli never Lit not lands cases even atures ock i.^ It docs deoli- n the soil, lits, ill lands ind. S. J. DA.'WSOHi— (Continued.) Except where the settlements extend along the water courses and highways already opened, the whole region is densely wooded. In many places large white pines, maple and black-birch indicate a soil of average fertility. In others the balsam- fir, spruce and white-birch maintain a doubtful footing among the underlying slates and quartzites of the district. The streams have, except at long intervals, an exceedingly rapid course, and although they do not exactly run upon sands of gold, I believe there is not a rivulet or brook in the whole region where particles of gold may not easily be found. From the nature of the rock, yielding easily as it does to the continuous action of water, there are but few perpendicular falls. The descent is, nevertheless, very considerable, and the places are rare where sufficient fall might not be obtained for hydraulic mining, or any other purpose for which water power may be required. There are numerous lakes, and of these. Lake Etchemin near the Eastern end of the division, and Lake Megantic, a little beyond its Western end, are the best known ; but there are many other lakes, in various parts of the division, which rival these in extent of surface, and in the magnificence of the scenery by which they are surrounded. Both lakes and rivers literally swarm with fish : the former with lunge, speckled trout and bass, and the latter almost exclusively with speckled trout. Settlement is advancing slowly but surely, and the recent gold discoveries may be expected to give it such an impetus as it has never had before. Through the exertions and influence of the two distinguished gentlemen, who represent, respectively, the Counties of Beauce and Dorchester in Parliament, various roads have been constructed or projected ; the road leading up the Etchemin has been improved to the lake of that name, and continued through the Township of Ware to the sources of the Daaquam in Langevin, where the Religious Order of the Trappists have erected a Church and cleared an extensive farm. Their establish- ment although isolated, being in the centre of a very fine tract of land, will soon attract settlement, and the settlers will have an admirable example before them in the self ini^wsed toil of highly educated men, who, by their industry and perseve- rance and without further means at their disposal than what the poorest settlers may command, have achieved success in the very heart of a wilderness. Various other lines of road strike off from the Etchemin through Cranbourne, one of which it is intended to continue through Watford and Metgermette, so as to strike the Kennebec road in Liniere. This is a highly important line as regards the opening up and settlement of these important Townships. West of the Chaudi^re, the Lambton road affords easy communication to Lake St. Francis and Sherbrooke. From this line, at Winslow, a very good road leads to Lake Megantic, and on that line there is a settlement of Scotch Highlanders, recently from the Hebrides. They seem much pleased with the country, finding, no doubt, much in it to remind them of their native land, to Avhich, with its lakes, mountains and rapid riiuniiig rivers, it bears more than an imaginary resemblance. I should not forget to mention that a road has been projected and partly constricted from Lambton by way of Lac Drolet, and the Drolet River, to touch the Chaudi6re in the Township of Gayhurst. The road, however, which would tend the most to the development of the country and the encouragement of settlement, and without which all other lines now projected, or in process of construction, would be incomplete, is a road from the main Kennebec line, at Jersey Point, along the banks of the Chaudi^re to Lake Magantic. This line has been already surveyed and, through the exertions of Mr. Taschereau, fourteen miles of it completed. A fair commencement, but if the entire distance were rendered passable, it would lead to the settlement of the country, and 74 m^ i'M S. J. DAWSON— (CoM««/JMfd.) the development of the Gold Fields with a rapidity which no other work of a similar nature in that section of the country could produce ; and I think it well worthy of the consideration of the Committee, whether it might not be advisable to recommend an appropriation for this all important work. The Chaudi^re is the main artery of the country, and in this part of its course, that is, between Jersey Point and Lake Megantic, it rushes with such impetuosity, and is 60 full of obstructions, that it is neither navigable nor susceptible of beirj made so — a road, therefore, becomes a matter of necessity to enable settlers and miners to penetrate into the country, — and I submit that the means for its construction might be asked for with a very good grace, seeing that the Government has, during the past season, derived a large revenue from the sale of lands in the Chaudi^re District or gold mining division. Do you know to what extent the gold fields of the Chaudi^re country have been worked, and what have been the results 1 The information asked for in this question will, in part, be much better obtained from the Gold Commissioner, that is as regards the actual quantity of gold produced. Iwould however remark that, apart from the mere money value of the amount obtained, and as a step towards the future development of the region, a great deal has been accom- plished during the past season. The country has been explored, and in many places closely examined, by scientific men and experienced miners. Rich deposits of allu- vial gold have been found in various places, more especially on the Gilbert, Famine, Du Loup and Metgeimette, on all of which rivers it was dug out in paying quanti- ties dunng the past summer. On the Portage, the Traveller's Rest, the Oliva, and upper Du Loup, " prospecting " was carried on in a sytematic manner, and at a very considerable outlay and, as regards the mere discovery of gold and the high proba- bility that further exploration wouid develop it in paying quantities, with unvarying success. On the Oliva, the late lamented Mr. Murney had a party at work during the greater part of the summer, under the direction of Mr. Dunbar Moodie, a gentleman who had b^en for a long time engaged in mining operations in California, and who, I haVe no doubt, will readily give evidence as to the result of his explorations. Mr. Lyon who superintended the operations which were carried on, on another part of the Oliva and the upper Du Loup, will inform the Committee as to the prospect which he obtained, under very difficult circumstances, the rains having set in when he com- menced work. I may further mention that very fine " prospects" of alluvial gold were found on the Samson and Nibnellis, two streams which enter the Chaudi^re from the south, below lake Megantic. On these streams, however, prospecting was only carried on to an evtent sufficient to shew the existence of gold in some abundance, and its very general diffiision. Alluvial gold was also found on the stream which flows from Woburn to Lake Megantic, and I was shown some fine nuggets said to have been obtained on that stream. I was also shown rough gold found on the upper tributaries of the Famine in the Township of Ware, and in the Townships of Auckland and Standou, I am credibly informed that very fair prospects were obtained. When, in connection with the discovery of alluvial gold over such an extensive tract of country, it is considered that the quartz throughout the same region has been found to be generally auriferous, it will be admitted that the operations of the past summer have been attended with results such as will at least bring the country into notice, and lead to operations on a more extensive scale. Have you yourself ever seen quartz gold in sittt on the Chaudidre; or any of its tributaries, if so, will you state in what Township or Seigniory 1 |i''|ilf 75 , S. J. BAWSOf^— (Continued.) I have had quartz from the fixed rock, assayed for gold and with success, but to give the Committee a just idea of quartz gold being found in situ, I shall, out of many reported instances, cite the following well authenticated ones : St. Francis. Quartz from the vein, assayed by Professor Kent, gave $22 in silver and $15 iu gold to the ton of 2,000 lbs. in all $35, authority, Mr. Grracen. Black sand from the same locality, gave $573 to the ton, authority, Mr. Como.n. Devil's Rapids. One sample silver lead ore, gave 32 ouncesof silver to the ton, another 37 ounces silver to the ton and a third 256 ounces silver to the ton ; i)yrites, gave 6 ounces alloy of gold and silver, and sulphuret of zinc, 9 ounces pale yellow gold to the ton. In these cases the ton was taken at 2240, lbs. authority, geological survey of Canada, as quoted by Trofesser Wurtz. Devil's Rapids. Arsenical pyrites gave $89 14- of gold per ton of 2000, ;; And silver 121 Inall $90 35 Black auriferoiis sand, yielded $2860 40 of gold, And silver 29 50 . .; > Inall $2899 90 ^ • •/ to the ton of 2000 lbs., assayed by Dr. Torry^ of New York, authority, Professor Wurtz. Jersey Point. Visible gold was found last summer in a quartz vein by Mr. Terrill. Gold wan also found on a jjrevious occasion by Mr. Cahill, in a detached mass of quartz, from which he broke sixteen dollars worth. See Mr. CahiWs evidence. Stafford Brook. Quartz from the surface of vein yielded $19.38 of gold, and $2.18 of silver, in all, $21.56 to the ton ; assayed by Professor Kent, authority, Dr. Reed. River Du Loup. Near the mouth of the Metgermette, quartz from vein ^ve $21 of gold to the ton ; autlwrity, Mr. French. Professor Hind examined quartz from this section, with the following result, as stated in his report : " June 6, No. 4. Pounded some quartz taken from a vein on the River du Loup, " and found in it some small pieces of gold ; five of these were slightly rounded at " thtr edge, the other, were filiform masses, unworn and jagged. " No. 5. Crushed some quartz taken by the writer from the vein on the Du " Loup, oj-.posite Ray's house, washed the quartz before pounding to remove any " adhering clay ; the cracked mass of quartz yielded three unworn jwinted or jagged " scales of gold. The quartz in both instances was crushed with a hammer on a " flat stone, previously cleaned, and the quantity operated on was about 15 pounds " in weight, ratlier under than over." S. J. DAWSON— (Continued.) Mbtgbrmettb. Black sand, without visible gold, yielded $4-80 in gold, and $26 in silver, in all $506, to the ton, of 2,000 lbs. ; assayed by Professor Seymour, authority, Mr. French. Another specimen of black sand from the Metgerraette, assayed by Dr. Hayes, of Boston, gave over $400 in gold to the ton ; autlurrity, Mr. Frencfi, who does not remember the precise quantity. PoRTAGB River. A piece of gold jagged and filiform at the edges with quartz still adhering to it, as shewn to the committee, was broken from a loose mass of quartz which appeared to have been detiiched from a vein a little higher up, autftority, Colonel Rankin. Oliva River. '' Quartz from vein yielded on assay in New York, $37 in gold to the ton of 2,000 lbs. 'y autfiority, Mr. Breakey. Kkmpt Stream. Visible gold was found in detached quartz, by Professor Wurtz. See hit, Repmt. Upper Du Loup. Within three miles ol'the Province line, a surface specimen of quartz, broken from a vein on mining block No. 13, gave 8 pennyweigtsof gold, with slight alloy of silver to the ton. Black sund from mining block number 4, yielded 22 pennyweights of gold to the ton. Both quartz and sand were assayed V)y Professor Hayeci, of Boston, to whom the specimens were sent by Mr. Dawson. Other cases might be noticed, in which the results were even more favorable, than in the instances I have mentioned. In the above cases, all the specimens were taken from the surface, or *vere fcund at no greater depth than a foot or two, and although the quantities of gold and silver discovered in the quartz by assay, except in that from the Devil's Rapids, are not large, they are, nevertheless, sufficient to shew that gold exists in the quartz generally throughout the auriferous region. Such as they are, the specimens were taken at various times, by diflerent individuals, from veins occurring at considerable intervals, over a distance of forty miles, in a direction nearly at right angles to that •of the strike of rock. This is a fact to wliich 1 would particularly invite the notice of the Committee, inasmuch as till lately, it was generally supposed that tiie gold had its origin in the Crystalline Schists of the Notre-Dame Range, the materials derived from the disintegration of which, it was supposed, constituted the material spread over the area further to the south. The explorations of last summer ha^'o, however, shewn that there is no need to resoit solely to the drifl hypothesis to account for the presence of gold in the supe-ficial deposits, in any part of the country, inasmuch as it might have been derived, and no doubt was, so at least in part, from the disintegration of the rocks of the locality. Professor Hind, in his explorations on the Metgcrmette, seems to have arrived at the conclusion that the gold was in part derived from the decomposing quartz veins of the locality and in part from the quartz fragments, which have come with the Northern drift from the rocks w' ch lie to the north of the Upper Silurian Slates below the rapids of St. Francis. Professor Wurtz, of the United States Assay Office, New- York, has investigated the subject with some care and the conclusions at which he has arrived, more •especially with regard to the quartz lodes of the Chaudiire district, are well worthy 77 of to S. J. DAWSOa— (Continued.) of notice. Before proceeding to quote from his report, with a copy of which I have been kindly furnished by Mr. Hood of the Reciprocity Mining Coni[)ony, it may not be out of place to shew, as giving vahie to his opinions, the estimation iu which he is held, among scientific men, in the United States. Professor J. D. Dana, of Yale College, a gentleman of world wide reputation, as a Chemist and n Geologist, in speaking of him remarks, as follows : " He is an able Chemist, as well as n good '* Mineralogist, and a person also of marked independence of thought and judgment " who would give, it appears Iu me, a iUithful unbiassed opinion. •' Professor J. Torrey, who is in charge of the United States O'eneral Assay " Office, says : You ask me to give the name of a gentleman, who is qualified to " make geological and metallurgical investigations in the field, and who is reliable '' for conscientiousness. I am happy to point out one who possesses these qualilica- " tions in a high degree, viz: Professor H. Wurtz ; I have known him for many years " and he has worked a great deal by my side in the laboratary ; I have entire '* confidence in his integrity." The Committee will thus perceive, that Professor Wurt/. is no amateur Geologist, making his first essay in exploration, but a plain practical experienced man, who came highly recommended as being able to perform the duty he had undertuken ; some weight will therefore bo attached t) his opinions even if they should happen to diflfer from those of some gentlemen, who, to whatever eminence they may have attained as mineralogists, would, I have no doubt, rather sec The Notre-Dame Range, with all its schists and gold, once more at the bottom of an Ocean tlian have their favorite theories upset. I quote from his rejwrt as follows ! ** The Notre-Dame Range of Mountains, which appears to have anciently con- " stituted a water-shed of the continent, though no longer such, is described in the " Canada Geological Reports as representing in Canada the crest of those great liues^ " of upheaval of the eastern coast of North America which are known to us as the " Alleghany or Appalachian chain of mountains. Those reports describe this pre- " dominant line of upheaval as passing from the Green Mountains of Vermont into " Canada along a line of elevated peaks commencing about fifty miles from Montreal " and langing in a generally north-eastern direction through Sutton, Orford, Ham, " Coleraine and Buckland, which would make this crest of upheaval cross the Chau- " di6re somewhere about Ste. Marie. " It is on the south-eastern ilank of this crest of upheaval that the grand system of mineral lodes carrying gold and silver, together with lead, copper and other metals, is found, ranging through Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia and . ^ ryland. . Through Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, this same grand metalli- ferous zone is found, carrying in these states almost solely difierent iron minerals, such as magnetic iron, iron pyrites, and magnetic pyrites, as in the highlands of New Jersey and the Hudson or West Point Highlands, in all cases still, however, lying almost wholy on the south-eastern flanks of the crest. In Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, still on the eastern flanks of the Green Mountains, come in again numerous lodes of metalliferous quartz, carrying chiefly sulphurets of iron, copper, lead and zinc, in which, both in Vermont and New Hampshire, gold and silver have been found at several points, all, however, I believe on the eastern side of the Green Mountains. " It appears therefore that we have here clearly the generalization that the " great Appalchian Zone of lode-bearing rocks ranges always on the eastern side of " the crest-line, and in accordance therewith we find that the region in v/hich the " Canadian gold has been found liec on the south-eastern side of the line above << indicated; crossing the Chatidi^re valley somewhere at or above Ste. Marie. T8 S. J. DAWSON— (Continued.) " The first great problem presented by this gold field, so long known, and yet so -" little known, is to determine whether the precious metal, as in all other known gold " fields, has been derived from the remains or debris of decomposed and disintegrated " veins or lodes traversing the rocka of the c^'nitry, or, as some have supposed or " suggested, from the ruins of other formations lying further to the northward, frag- ■" ments of which are known to havo been strewn copiously over this country, before " its emersion from the ocean, by ice floating from the north. Singular as this latter *' supposition seems, much currency has been given to it by the fact that it appears to " have been adopted in the earlier official reports on the Geological Survey of Canada ; " and this circumstance may have tended to retard the development of the gold pro- " di'ct of this section by discouraging the investment of capital therein." After describing the country and the lodes of qupriz highly impr«?gnated with metalic sulphurets, running parallel with the line of upheaval, and remarking that the course of the lodes at the Devil's Rapids would take them accross the Gilbert shortly above the point where the diggings were so rich that at the time he wrote (20th September, 1864,) 300 men were officially stated to be taking out $1,200 per day, he goes on to say : " The gold from the washings on the Gilbert presents to my eye no indication " of having been rolled or transported, having irregular angular forms, and presenting " under the lens dull irregular surfaces, free from polish or scratches — specimens were " observed still inclosing portions of the quartz of the lode from which they were ** derived. <' The grains of gold washed out by us in other places presented similar appear- " ances under the magnifier. None of the polish or wear which would naturally " result from its tran rtation to any considerable distance from its original matrix, ** was apparent. " From the reasons stated and implied in the above, it is my conviction that no ** reason exists for supposing that any of the gold found in this section was " derived from any other source than the lodes of quartz which traverse the " country itself. Other pregnant reasons for this belief are the facts that no gold has, to ^* my knowledge, been yet found in any rocks existing to the norihwaid of this region, " and that gold has been found in the quartz lodes of the region itself, both visible " and in those invisible forms in which it can only be found by chemical tests. " Also the occurence of any collestion Of materials containing nuggets and " coarse gold in any one place or places in sufficient abundance to constitute the " pay ^« dirt " of diggings, seems incomprensible on the drift hypothesis. The gold contained " in such drift would necessarily be spread quite uniformly throughout its whole mass, ." and to account for such diggings as those on the Gilbert, would necessitate the belief " that the small valley of this stream became mysteriously the recipient of a portion of " this drift, which, equally mysteriously, hap{)ened to be enormously and unusually ■<•' rich m boulders derived from auriferous quartz lodes extant in li.e far country « whence they came. " It may be asked, however, why is it that these Canada quartz lodes show at " their outcrop so little visible indication of the gold supposed to have been derived " (rota them, while in a neighbouring gold field, the rocks and lodes of which, in " important respects, resemble these remarkably, namely : that in Nova Scotia, we find " the outcrops shovang visible gold abundantly 1 I reply that the Nova Scotia region " is in this respect a striking exception to the general rule, and that the cause of this " peculiarity is fully explained to my mind by the remarks made by Professor Silliman, ** in his Nova Scotia Report mi " the extreme compactness and tightness of the rock " strata, which, although turned up on edge, are so tight bound as to shut out almost " completely the pcicolation of surface water." — This is very far from being the case " in Canada, and the chance, therefore, of the removal of the gold from the outcrop to that no on was rse the I has, to |s region, visible ts and pay show at lerived lich, in |we find region of this fUiman, le rock almost le case Itcrop to * S. J. DAWSON— (^Continued.) "greater depths in the lodes by the chemical and mechanical action of vvater per- " colnting from the snrface is far greater. " I therefore maintain that no more reason exists in the cas3 of this gold field for " regarding the quartz lodes as urncorthy of exploratwn and /eaiing them untouched, as " has heretofore been dnne, than existed for the same procedure in California, Australia, " or Colorado, in each of which the same couise of incredidity had sway before actual " mining develojjmeftts in the quartz confounded the unbelievers^ After quoting in complimentary terms from the Reports of the Canadian Geolo- gical Survey, and shewing the result of assays made by Mr. Hunt, himself, he con- cludes his remarks on this subject by saying : — "These results I regard as amply sufficient to justify the belief that the gold " found in the diggings on the Gilbert, situated as stated above, near where this and its " associated lodes should cross its bed, was derived from these lodes without resorting " to the Northern Ice Drift for any of it." In a second report he remarks of the Famine valley as follows : " The gold of the Famine valliy would appear to have been, at least in part, " washed down from a high ridge containing an immense range of lodes of quartz occu- " pying the position indicated by the v^.otted lines on the map of the township of Ware " attached hereto. This enormous set of lodes was crossed on the line of the coloniza- " tion road, and examined also on the south side of Lake Etchemin. On the lower end " of the Watford tracts, about a quarter of a mile from the Famine, were found out- " crops of quartz, probably outlayers of the set. It can hardly be doubted that the " Devil's Rapid and Gilbert River set of lodes is the prolongation of this. The whole " val'ey of the Famine, with its contained gravels and clays, at least above the Big " Falls, on Lot No. n of Watford, and more especially above the Little Falls on Lot " No. 20, is very thickly interspersed with pebbles and bouldersof red jasper and green " epidote, the origin of which was traced by me to various beds of schists mterstratified " with the quartz lodes in this ridge. Thisdiscovery, which 1 regard as the most prac- " tically important one made by me during the whole course of my Canadian explora- " tions at once stamps the so called " drift " of the Famine valley, with its contained " gold, or the greater part of it, as of local origin, and as derived from the elevated " ridges which flank the valley itself. Specimens of these epidotic and jasperoid " pebbles, together with specimens of sirailar rocks found in place on the south side of " Lake Etchemin, were brought home with me, and are in your possession. " Those tributaries of the famine which cut down through this lode-bearing ridge " are worthy of special examination, as tor instance the outlet of Lac Raquette, before " spoken of. It will be observed on the map that the course of the Gilbert takes it *' across f and makes it cut donn through this ridge." With regard to the question as to whether the sulphurets which abound in the quartz are auriferous, and in what situations they may be expected to be so, he remarks as follows : — " Whether these sulphurets are auriferous can be ascertained only by opening the lodes to a sufficient depth to arrive at the undecomj)osed sulphurets. All experi- ence has shewn that assays made of the decorr.posed materials found in lodes above their water-levels, determine nothing with certainty regarding their auriferous character. A circumstance which should certainly encourage the sinking of trial shafts, at least into these lodes, is the fact that many of them will be Ibund to carry, in addition to the possible gold, remunerative quantities of copper and silver-lead ores, and that after such ores have been operated upon for gold, by amalgamations or otherwise, leau, copper, and ;jilver may be profitaoly extracted from the tailings." In concluding my answers to your question as to quartz gold being found in situ, I may say that I am credibly inforaied that visible gold has been repeatedly found in S. J. DAWSON— (Continued.) quartz at Harvey Hill on Lot 14 iu the 16th Range of Leeds, and at St. Sylvester on the Chaudi^re Mining Company's property. I have the authority of Mr. Rylai:d for saying that visible gold has been also found in veins in Buckland, on the t)order8 of Stanoon. From the evidence of Mr. Brock the committee are aware that gold to the amount of $60 was broken with a hammer from about 400 lbs. of quartz taken from the vein at St. Francis. "While on this si:bject, I may say that it would be highly advantageous if a coni- pe*','nt assayer could be established on the Chaudi^re, and to this end, I think, the Government might reasonably be looked to for a little aid. In what form, is gold found in the localities you uie acquainted with and wliat are the different modes of working ? Gold is found, as I have already shewn, in quartz and in the alluvial deposits^ In the latter it is sometimes very much water worn and in comminuted particles and sometimes in nuggets of a considerable size, rough oiid angular with quartz still adhering to them as if they had not been carried far from the vein whence they were detached ; I have seen, during the past summer, nuggets of every size from that of a pins head to masses weighing over a pound in weight. The modes of working are of a very primitive description, nor can this be wondered at when it is considered that the discoveries of gold in such large quantities are so recent and that, at the time of these discoveries, there were so f^w p/actical miners in the country 1 The tunnelling, at present, being carried on beneath the snow on the Gilbert, is, I think, a new feature in gold mining, and it is satisfactory to know that it is so remunerative as it is proved to be by the evidence of the miners from that place. Have you heard of any quicksilver being found or indications of silver or copper in the gold region ? The presence of quicksilver has been detected at Jersey Point, and on the Gilbert, but I am not aware that it has bean found in any form in considerable quantities. Silver is always found associated with the gold to the extent of from 10 to 15 per cent. Argentiferous galena is met with in the quartz lodes, and some specimens of quartz have, on assay, yielded as much as $30 and even $256 of silver to the ton. It is also found in the black sand as will appear on reference to my answer to query 8. Copper is very generally distributed in the form of copper pyrites and, in the upper part of the gold mining division, it is found more abundant in the quartzites than in the gold bearing (juartz lodes. A promising vein of copper ore was opened last summer at Ste. Marie ; and, at St, Claire, on the Etchemin, to judge from the specimens I have seen, some of which I now produce, I am fully confident that it might be obtained in paying quantities. Copper ore is said to be abundant in other j/arts of the division, but of this I cannot speak from personal observation. Are you aware of any precious stones, such aa diamonds, rubies, pearls, &c., having being found, and, if so, have they been of any value and to any extent ? I have seen some very fine pearls and heard of one having been sold for $700 — I saw one valued at $30, which I now think must have been worth much more, for it was very clear, and of the diameter of half an inch. I do not believe, however, that pearls are abundant on the Chaudidre. As to precious stones, I am not aware, from personal observation, of any having been found ; and although I have heard of diamonds, I suspect they were of the nature of those which abound in the vicinity of Quebec, that is, beautifully transparent crystals of quartz. 81 |rls, Sec, 1 mo— kwever, 1 aware, leard of lity of S. J. DAWSON— (Conttnued.) There are, however, stoues of another nature, which will become valuable iu course of time ; jasper of a high colour and susceptible of a fine polish is abundant in Cranbourne and Stundoa. Roofing slates might be obtained in any quantity on the upper watv-TS of the Portage and Oliva, and on the same streamj$ flags for pavements might be ibund of dimensions such as I have never seen elsewhere. Are you able to form an opinion, in respect of the management of the branch «f the Crowii Domain, aiul of the effect of the gold mining license system, both under the Act of last session, and prior to thai Act ? Gold uMiiing may be said to have but just commenced, and where there is no experience to guide, it would be unreasonable to look for perfection in management; still, there is a wid(? margin between perfection and such a mistake as has been, at least, in one instance committed and, if I draw the attention of the Committee to this grave error, I dtj so in no unkind spirit of criticism, nor from any fear that it will now i)e por.-sislcd iu, but from a desire to place in its true light a system which is becoming too prevalent, and that is, the arrogating to themselves, on the part of subordinate branches of departments, of powers which the Executive itself would hesitate to assume without the sanction of Parliament. J allude to the order or rather edict — for it can be called nothing less — of the 15th of last September, addressed to the gold mining Inspector, ''"'he letter which contains this order, although it bears the signature of the Chief of the Crown Lands Department, (as, where the correspondence is so vast, many department letters must, as a mere matter of routine,) was the production ol" the officer in charge of the Crown Domain Branch of that department, to whom has been entrusted the management of the gold fields, and with him rests the weighty responsibility of having written it. Regarding it, then, as emanating from him in the exercise of what he, no doubt, considered to be his privi- lege and his duty, I ([note the following paragraph — " Persons working in the beds of navigable or floatable streams within yourdivi- " sion, not specially included in original Crown grant, are subject to Crown Lands "gold license fees. At the same time, in the cases of small streams, it may be " advisable to lay out the claims under the 11 Vic. of the Gold Mining Act, in such " a way as to secure the preference to the riparian owners." Now, this reads very fairly and the seeming regard for the r.parian owners, in securing to them the first offer of the privilege of paying for the use of the streams on their own land, has an air of consideration and equity about it which, at first sight, would be very likely to mislead. A little investigutio will, however, shew its true tenor and meaning. The poorest settler on a river bank or, to use a more elegant expression, the wore&t ripnriiui owner has generally a frontage of not less than two arpents and a lalf, often much more, that is, if the stream should happen to wind diagonally through lis land or if he should have more than one lot. But, taking it at the lowest, two arpents and a half j or 520 feet ; Crown Lands licenses, such as he must procure, can, by law, only have a frontage of 20 feet on a river or large creek. He would, therefore, to cover his frontage, have to take out every month 26 Crown Lands licenses for which he would have to pay $2 each or $52 rnonthly ; that is in the aggregate $312, for the six months during which mining could be carried on. Of course, if his lot crossed the river he would have to pay double that amount. But, to take a wider view of the matter, there is on the Etchemin and its numerous tributaries an extent of over two hundred miles of river bottom, where the lands on either side, are owned by private individuals, and, on the Chaudi6re, and its affluents some four hundred miles in a similar position making, irrespective of other rivers in the division, 600 miles. Let this be doubled, as the frontage on both sides has to be taken into account and we have 1200 miles, eq[ual to 6,336,000 feet of river frontage 6 82 S. J. DAWSON— (Continued.) which at 20 feet for each claim would give 316,800 claims for which there would have to be paid monthly $633,600, or during the 6 months of open water $3,801,600. The committee are now aware that this brillaiit scheme of finance resulted in adding just $4- to the revenue. Two licenses were issued under the order, and the possessor of one i>f these had to fly for his life the enraged " Ripaian Owner" as is proved in evidence now before the committee, having threatened to shoot him if he dared to work in the river bed, on his land, without his consent. All this may appear too absurd for serious argument. It is, nevertheless, a very serious matter, for the order was sent to the officer in charge of the Chiiudidre Gold mining division, as a document bearing the full weight of the authority of the Govern- ment. That not one member of the government was aware of an order of such import having been sent to the mining division, I infer from the following facts: 1st. That to appropriate the river beds in the manner intended would have been contrary to law. I have arrived at this conclusion afler consulting several gentlemen eminent in French luw, among others, an ex-commissioner of Crown Lands. Among these gentlemen, there seemed to be some difference of opinion as to what was a floatable river, and what was not, but there was none whatever as to floatable rivers being public property f only for public purposes such as higlvonys, or channels of communi- cation which no one can interrupt. Here, then, the order in question would have been contrary to law ii* authorizing the construction of private works, such as dams and sluices which, even if the rivers were floatable, would very soon render them the reverse. 2nd. That, even if the Government could legally have appropriated the river bed., for gold mining purposes, it would have hesitated to do so, inasmuch as it would at once have foreseen that where there is so large a jwpulation, as in the valleys of the Etchemin and Chaudidre, such a proceeding would have been productive of ill-feeling between the settlers and the miners, and might have resulted in serious disturbances. I may add that such a course would have interfered with the ordinary industry of the country, for if miners once got possession of the river beds, they would natu- rally object to the construction of mills, dams or manufactories, in fact, to hydraulic works of any kind, which could cause their claims to be overflowed or embarrass them in working them, and this the Government would not have failed to notice. 3rd. That if it had been actually determined on to appropriate the beds of float- able or navigable rivers, the Government, it is reasonable to suppose, would, in the first instance, have ascertained what rivers came under the designation of floatable or navigable, and not have thrown on poor settlers or Riparian Owners, the onus of determining points of law which might involve them in years of litigation and, in the meantime lead to the ruin of an opening enterprise which can only be successfully initiated by the united and friendly action of the settlers and the miners.- For these reasons, and others which it is unnecessary to mention, I cannot avoid the conclusion that the issuing of the order of the 15th of last September, was thesole Act of the Crown Domain Branch, and I shall end my answer to the first part of your question as I began it by drawing the attention of the committee, and, through it of the legislature and government, to the anomaly of subordinate branches of Depart- ments, arrogating to themselves powers which, unless exercised with greater discre- tion than in this instance, have a very dangerous tendency. In regard to the second part of your question, namely, as respects the Gold Min- ing License System. The Act of last Session lias scarcely, as yet, had a fair trial. The area of the claims is, in general, supposed to be too small, being the same as that udopted in the first instance in Nova Sootia, in regard to which the late Professor t avoid he sole of your h it of epart- discre- Id Min- lir trial. 1 as that tofessor 1% I ^ S. J. DAWSON— (Continued.) Sillimau remarked, that " the excessively Imd system of small areas, twenty by fifty " feet led to the excavation of so tnany shallow surface pits, that the accumulated "water soon drove out the adventurers who abandoned their claims, and the ground " has remained since quite neglected.'" The system at the time he wrote had, how- ever, been altered ; tor, in another ] rt of his report, he remarks as follows: "A " district having been determined to contain gold, it is declaircd by the Gold Com- " missioner to be a Gold District within assigned limits. It is then surveyed and laid " off into ' areas ' which as the law now stands, are three-fourths of an acre each, or " 150 feet on the supposed course of a vein, and 250 feet in the other direction*" The claims here, I think, should be made of the same seize as those in Nova Scotia. As regards quartz mining, however, it is a malter of no great moment, for, until the law is altered in other respects, no practical man would go to the expense of erecting crushing mills and other costly machinery on the mere strength of a monthly license which did not even contain a description of the area to be occupied. As I have already said, in answer to query 5, I think every license should distinctly describe the ground which it is intended that it should cover, otherwise, in the event of rich strikes being mad<^, on the Crown Lands, confusion would inevita- bly arise. To illustrate this it is ^ c necessary to consider what the effect would be of granting licenses to cut timber on the waste lands of the Crown, without clearly defining the limit or specifying the locality. Many years ago, before the union, such a system obtained in Lower Canada, and in the Ottawa region, at least, resulted for a time in the ascendency of the once celebrated ** shiners," a class of men who were brought to the district expressly to fight for the best groves. Now, if it should so hap- pen that a number of miners, all having in view the same piece of ground, and each having an equally good claim to it, in the shape of a Crown Lands License, which left each free to stake out his claims wherever he chose, it is to be apprehended that trouble might arise. The " Crown Domain Branch " in its letter of 15th September, already referred to, says : " Croum Lands Gold Licenses are not granted for any par' ticular lot.''* Now, this, I think, should be remedied. No difiiculty, however, is likely to arise until new discoveries are made on the lands of the Crown. With regard to the last part of your question, as to the effect of the license sys- tem prior to the Act of last Session, the only regulations previous to that time were those of the 22nd of April, commonly known as Mr. Gait's regulations. They were comprehensive, and, in my opinion, well framed, but they were suspended soon after being issued. The clause in respect to River Beds ran thus : — " In cases where a lot borders on a stream not included therein the license will " go to the middle thereof; when a stream crosses a lot the same will be comprised ** in the license, subject in all cases to the public rights in navigable or floatable " rivers." The above is clear and unmistakeable, and shews that the government had no intention of appropriating the river beds, but was ready to license them to the owners merely securing the public in the right of navigating them as public highways. Have yon formed any idea in your own mind, as to a better system of developing the resources of the gold region, and if so will you please conimunicate it to the committee ? In regard to developing the resurces of the gold region, it can best be effected by giving every reasonable encouragement to those who invest their capital in opening it up. If there has been anything to complain of hitherto, it has been an excess of legislation and an over-active and ever varying management. A little aid in the way of opening roads, would tend greatly to the development of the country, and the money arising from the sale of lands in the division should, 6» u r S. J. DAWSOa— (^Continued.) I think, be laid out in this way, for it could not be more profitably invested as it would thus be the means of drawing settlement to 'he mining region. The government, so far, has not contributed anything lo the development of the mines, and, seeing that the revenue from the sale of lands has been consider- able, I think some slight aid might very reasonably be looked for. The work as I have already stated, which I consider the most important is a road from Jersey Point along the banks of the Chaiidi^re to Lake Mcgantic, and I trust the Committee will Botfitil to urge its importance upon the Legislature. I must now tender a recommendation in reference to a matter which I would much rather pass over, did circumstances permit ; but I believe there is no one who has any considerable amount of means invested in the Chaudi6i-e Gold Mining Division, who can look without apprehension on the management continuing as it is at present. A few such letters as that of the 15th of September, would u.ive capital from the country and retard the development of the mines indefinitly. T would, therefore, recommend that the Gold Commissioner should, as the law provides, be a permanent officer and placed in such a iK>sition as to be beyond the reach of ill-con- aideied , orders from any of the employees of the Public Departments, and to this end, I think he should be made to report to the govermnent through the office of the Provincial Secretary. This is the practice in Nova Scotia, and the late Professor Silliman, in his very able report on the gold fields of that country, speaks of it in a tone of approval as follows : — " The Chief Gold Commissioner resides in Halifax, but has his Deputies in each " jgold district, whose duty it is to see that the provisions of the law are carried out (^ and returns duly made each month, accompanied by a report on the condition of *^ the industry in the district represented. From these returns the Gold Commis- "sioner prepares a quarterly exhibit, which he issues in a " Royal Gazette." The "^ Grold Comiiiissioner also makes an annual report to the Provincial Secretary, giving ^* an account of the mining operations in Hie several go'd districts of the Province during " the previous year. This report, for the year 1862, is a valuable document, in which "the then Chief Commissioner, Samuel Cieelman, Esquire, gives a large interesting " and important amount of information." If this plan should be considered inexpedient or inconvenient there is still another way in which some degree of protection might be afforded to the mutual interests of the miners and land ownerr. ,, / , ! And, convinced as I am that some change is necessary, I would stiggest that, if the management must remain with the Crown Land Department, it should be placed in the hands of a Board composed of at least three of its officers, say: the Assistant Coramissioner, the head of the Domain Branch, and the head of some other branch, say the Sales Branch. These three officers, the Assistant Com- missioner being Chairman, to meet and consult together before submitting any im- portant order to the final decision of the Commissioner. This would, surely be a great improvement on the present system, inasmuch as it would insure a greater aegree of prudence and foresight in the management. In answering your last question, I may remark that I do not consider a dollar per month, w^iich is the charge for every man employed under a private lands license, at all an extravagant tax. I am of opinion, however, that the tax for a Crown Lands License, which is $2 per month, should be made uniform with that on private lands. The public lands are at a considerable distance from the lines of travel, and besides being more difficult of access, require a comparatively large amount of capital expended before any result can be looked for, and it is always well to encourage those who make, or endeavor to make, new discoveries. In regard to Police regulations, they axe sufficiently provided for in the Act of last Sessiou, In the eyent, however, of a ligrge influx of miiiers, and disturl^iLnce arising^ dollar lands for a hat 00 Bies of large swell of last risings 85 S. J. DAWSON— (CoMfmMfrf.) it is quite evident that the country Magistrates would not act, and in such a case the presence of a Stipendiary Magistrate, such as the Mining Inspector, may become a necessity. In the maintenance of order much must always depend upon the Government Officer ; and, in this respect, I cannot but call the attention of the Committee to the prudence manifested by Major de Bellefeuille last season, in pre- venting what might have resulted in a serious collision between the land owners and miners. The latter had held meetings at which large numbers attended, and had adopted resolutions conceived in a determination to set the law at defiance, and if matters did not proceed to extremities, it was due to the firm, yet conciliatory bearing of the Inspector, who, without any force at his disposal, succeeded in making the miners return to their work, and efiecting a reconciliation between them and the land owners. Major de Bellefeuille's previous habits as a soldier, added to his natuml prudence and foresight, adapt him admirably for such contingencies, and I feel convinced that his re-appointment to his former office would be hailed with pleasure both by land owners and miners. In concluding my answer to your question (13), inviting suggestions as to a better system of developing the gold mines, I would say that no new enactment is required for carrying out the few slight but very important alterations which I have recommended, as the Act of last Session fully empowers the Governor, in Council, to make such alterations in all those cases as may be deemed necessary. Have you formed any opinion as to the effect of the De Lery Patent, in the mining country, in what way it has affected the mining interest or the development of the resources ? In regard to the De L6ry Patent, I can afford the committee but little information. It is, however, but justice to the Messrs. De L6ry, to say their exertions were, in the first instance, the means of attracting attention to the Gold Fields. Many years ago they expended considerable sums in the employment of scientific men who explored the country and reported upon it. The rejwrt of Mr. Cunningham, one of the gentle- men so employed, was generally read and it was thus instrumental in leading to ope- rations on a somewhat extended scale on the rivers Famine and du Loup, which led in their turn to the general discovery of gold in the District. The piitent is burdened with a royalty of 10 per cent on the gross returns imposed at a time when it was doubtless considered that such a tax was a very moderate one on gold. But the idea that gold mining is susceptible of bearing a heavier tax than other branches of industry is now completely exploded, and, T think, if it is intended to carry out in its integi-ity a patent which was no doubt considered a deserved boon at the time it was granted, the Royalty should be reduced to reasonable proportions, say 3 per centum of the gross returns which, according to the experience of Nova Scotia, is the highest that gold mining will bear. Are you aware that an order was issued on the 15th September last, authorizing the gold commissioners to grant licenses, on all floatable rivers within high mark 1 I am and I have referred to it in my answer to the 12th query, the order was a great mistake, but I have already suggested means by which the recurrence of such blunders may be y-r-^vented. Do you know what is meant by floatable rivers 1 With the view of ascertaining what, according to the old customs and institutions of the country, have been considered floatable or navigable rivers, I have consulted many gentlemen eminent in French law, and I have not met one who would apply these terms to streams that were not navigable for boats or rafts at ordinary stages of water, which none of the tributaries of the Chaudi6re or Etchemin are, nor even the Chaudi^re itself, except for a very small part of its course. 86 S. J. DAWSON— (CoMroperty and extend- ing to where the new township of Roxborough is situated — following the course of the Du Loup, I caused washings to be made and found gold. I do not mean to say, in every pan of earth taken up we found gold ; but we left no spot without finding traces of this metal. The character of the country generally, and of the underlying rocks, is precisely the same, throughout that region as at the Gilbert. Was the earth you examined taken from the surface 1 From near the surface ; perhaps a couple of feet down, and generally near the borders of streams. I became convinced from that exploration that the country was really auriferous, and that there were probably numbers of other places in that country, which, on being worked, would turn out as valuable as — and some more so than — the Gilbert district. I also discovered in the course of my examinations a great num- ber of quartz veins, in none of which, however, was gold visible ; but I saw gold, in many instances in detached pieces of rock I took on the spot. Nevertheless, I saw a quantity of quartz from other gold-producing countries, and it would be impos- sible to recognize any difference between that found in the ChaudiSre region and that fi'om California. I oxamined every tributary flowing into the Du LoUp, from iti confluence with the Chuudiere, for at Ir-ast twenty-seven or twenty-eight rniles up, and on all of them found the same indications of gold. On the Metgermette, some iQiles up, I also found some very good indications — in fact, there was gold every place. On the Traveller's Rest a singtilur discovery occurred : — A Frenchman' with me, on pulling some weeds out of the ground, found in the eartli adhering to the roots particles of gold. •H> By the Chairican— On the surface 1 Yes, as if the weeds had been put into the ground. Then on the banks of the Travellers Rest, at a place possibly not more than half a mile in a straight line from where the ICennebec Road crosses the stream^ we saw where a land sliaei had taken place. The banks here were very high, and the idea occurred to me of causing a drift to bo made into them, at about thirty feet above the water-level, and of having a quantity of earth taken out and washed. I found, in about two hour's working, small particles of gold, which altogether would be worth two or three shillings. Had you practical miners with you? I had men who were employed by Mh Otey,; at Jersey point, at th6 oonfiutoc^ of the Du Loiip, in working mines. I had one man from the Gilbert, and two frurti the Oliva. Perhajw, about a mile from the road up the stream, exactly similal* 89 • ARTHUR RANKIN— (Co»»ix hundred families. About two thirds of the land is conceded and is the property of the fanners. Mr. DeLery retains upwards of twenty-two thousand acres, which cannot be disturbed. Do you think the existence of that patent aflecls the price of lands at the pre- sent time ? Most unquestionably. It would not affect the price of my land, as I would take no less for it by reason of the existence of the patent than otherwise : it does, though, as regards other parlies. A friend of mine tried to sell a piece of land, very favorably situated, while in New York ; the owner could have got $50,000 in gold for it, but for the existence of the patent, which deterred parties from buying at all I could purchase bnd from Imbitanls for much less than if they did not believe the patent operative. It would work injuriously as respects the development of the resources of the country, and prevent its settlement or development; and would cause land to be sold at a great disadvantage. No practical miner who studied the thing woiUd take those lauds and bind himself to perform the conditions of the patent, which exacad from the miner ten per cent., not of the gross profits of the 91 as some- rstand it, 8. TJiia ouk tho Br of the me, nt ed lands iinds, fur [>f which r. This, vould be ides, the vaUie of igence to iny other tion had ed lauds ^ lawyer, [' ray pur- , another J parties to enable dismissed ix)S8essed 3 became in doing. ; need be irs v/orth 7, 18 and ras there, :1 doUars.^ it is very thousand bout two y retains the pre- >uld take , though, avorably or it, but I could le patent resources Id cause le thing patent, a of the ARTHUR RANKIN— (Co««t«M«f.) mine, but of all he took out of the ground ; and must leave him without enough to keep himself in food. No practical miner would ever undertake to pay this amount. The difficulty would be greater if the holder of the lands was to be subjected to the enforcement of tlte conditions. Can you give us any information as to the working of the Act of 1864, or as to how it can be amended to make it beneficiul t My imprefsion when the Act was passed was, that we should have some law by which miner's rights could be preserved, and those of private individuals protectea. So far from its being wise to impose charges on men going out to develop such a country, it would have been much better if the Government had abstained from requiring payment of any license at all, and had offered to puy a pri/.o or bonus to the party who first discovered a nugget of some certain weight. I think tho government should rejoice at any cause tending to make people flock to an undeveloped country ; and that it should, instead of discouraging, induce people to "o to such a wilderness and develop it at their own expense. So far as the law wos concerned, if it was necessary to have law, I isee no great objection to it, except that the present Act made the cloims ridiculously small, and made the licenses renewable too oflen. They should be given r^r a whole year. Then what harm could there be in giving 500 feet of a claim instead of 25 feet. Are you aware of the terms of the letter issued by the Crown Land Department on the 15th September last, in relati'>n to floatable rivers 1 No. I have only heard of it but never saw it ; somQ of these streams increase in width at certain seasons, and if you give land, to high water mark, it would create difficulty. A great portion of this land is under good cultivation. Br Mr. Taschereau : — Public opinion is that Mr. De Lery has a good right to the gold under his patent t Yes ; but the class of people among whom that opinion prevails cannot read and do not judge fur themselves. Does the right of land reserve the gold to Mr. De Lery 1 I know nothing at all about that. I bought mine from the habitants, in fee simple. In answer to Mr. Taschereau, witness said. There was not a word in my deed about the mines. The seller gave me a title, and guarantees it to be a good title. When is the ten per cent due to the Government ? ' It is due after Mr. De Lery " smelts-" That condition also satisfies me the pa- tent is good for nothing. It was unconstitutional ever to make such a grant, and it was subjecting parties to conditions that could not be put into force. By it the holders of the patent had the privilege of working for gold without paying anything to the crown, until they smelted according to the practise in 1601. In ray opinion, it is absolutely a fraud. Do you know of any law suits having been instituted by government to cancel the letters-patent ? I do not know of it, but have heard of private individuals instituting law suits. I know there is a law suit standing involving the validity of the letters-patent at the suit of Mr. O'Farrell. Who is in possession of the land you own now ? My self^ , . : . Are yon working for gold ? No, not at present ; but I intend to do so in spring. 92 ARTHUR RANKIN~(Conrtn««;.) Is that not the land on which the reciprocity company is now ? That company own large tracts of other lands, but only a small portion of that iand. Say one hundred acres. By Mr. Shanlv — Who assayed for you 1 We had several assays made which shewed valuable production of gold, though some yielded none at all. What was the quality of th.e gold ? I can produce the official letter from the Governor of the Mint in regard to it, and will submit it to the Committee to-morrow. Mr. Dawson's brother, probably, can give more information than anybody else about this quartz, many promising veins of vrhich p.re on his brothers property. By Mr. Taschereau — On the Portage ? On this more par*'cularly, but there are veins of quartz in Risborough, ou the ■Du Loup and at other places. 10th March, 1865. Col. RANKIN, M. P. P., re-examined. ^Y Mr. Shanly — From your own personal and practical knowledge of mining matters on the Ch-\udi6re, have you reason to believe that the existence of the DeLery patent had the eFect of retarding the taking out of licenses, and if it had not existed, what number of licenses do you believe would or could have been issued for mining, in the Seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudreuil, during the past year 1 Tlie existence of the patent did not retard, but absolutely prevented the issuing of any licenses of any kind. What do you say as to the probable number that might have been taken out, had it not existed within the said Seigniory ? Considering the fact that the Gilbert is not the only stream in this Seigniory which is known, by previous working and exploration, to be what is called gold- bearing, that there are the rivers Bras and Des Plantes, and several smaller str-ams}, in the vicinity of which gold has been found, I think it would not be unreasonable to assume that iiome seven or eight thousand licenses might have been sold last year. There would have been applications on the Gilbert alone for some 1200 or 1500 licenses, if they could have been obtained ; and as I believe each private license costs a dollar a month, I feel warranted in saying that government might have obtained a revenue of twenty thousand dollars there, last year, within the Seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudreuil, or the territoiy embraced in that patent. What number do you suppose might be taken out this ensuing season, sup^iose the patent die! not exist in Rigaud-Vaudreuil 1 I would expect a very large increase on last year, from these facts ; the working of the mines last year has been the means of spreading information respecting them in a great many localities of Upper Canada, which must attract attention. Probably about a thousand men, from different parts of Canada, have worked on either the Gilbert or elsewhere in the Seigniory within the last working season, and all have been convinced that it is a regular gold bearing country. Each iv.an will carry to his own locality information which will create confidence in these lands, to an extent that has not hitherto existed. In addition, there are other parties, besides myself, who have demoted themselves all sunimer to attract the attention of people in the 93 of that , though rd to it, ibly, can veins of 1, Oil the , 1865. s on the itent had ed, what ining, in e issuing ikeii out, ?eigniory ed gold- sU'fiim^s, enable to ast year, or 1500 license ght have Seigniory , supiiose working mg them Probably iither the all have I carry to m extent myself, )le in the ARTHUR RASKIii— (Continued.) States, to the existence of gold in the Chaudidre region. Several Companies have been organized in the United States, in some of which are men of large inlliienc?, and who will have a direct interest in attracting attention to that part of the country and in inducing emigration thither. I therefore think I would noi be exnggeratino- in saying there might be, this year, double as much revenue obtained witiiin tliat Seigniory, as last year. There might be forty thousand dollars of revenue collected this year, as every man has to pay a dollar a month for his license ; and I think the Government may fairly consider that, last year, they lost a revenue of twenty thou- sand dollars, in consequence of the existence of that patent ; and that they mif>lit obtain a revenue of $40,000 this year from the sole of license? within that 8eignioiy. 1 would be prepared to take a thousand licensesif [could get them, and pay a thousand dollars for them to morrow ; and this even if I should be compelled to renew the licenses each month during the working season. You have stated in your evidence that you hold lands in the Chaudi(>re Mining Region ; have you held out inducements for labouring men to go on said lands to work, if so, what has been the nature of your oflers, and what has been the result ? The only place within the gold mining region at which any charge whatever was made by landowners, was within the seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudreuil, on the River Gilbert, where the proprietors of land had purchased them, not from the Crown, but from the farmers inhabiting those lands, and to whom they had been granted by the Crown or by the Seignior,, in some instances as far back as 50 years ago ; for those lands the proprietors had paid large prices, and were justified in endeavoring to get some return for the investments they had marie. But as far as this question applies to the action of proprietors who had purchased lands from the Crown witnin the last two or three years, I can state most distinctly in behalf of several other proprietors, as well as in my own behalf, that great pains were taken by the owners of wild lands situated in various parts of what is understood to be the ' to Nova Scotia to survey the gold fields of that Province. He volunteered his services, offering to accompany us and make an examination of the Chaudidre region if we would pay the expenses. He offered to give us his full notes, afler making explora- tions, but said he never made a private report and could not give us such. Afler being engaged in the operation five or six days, T insisted on his giving us a report, thinking it was due from him, and finally, afler considerable objection, he made a pri- vate report and gave it to us. Can you state what was the result or conclusion arrived at by those gentlemen and yourself, afler the examination you described ? Our conclusion in regard to the richness of the gold fields in the ChaudiAre region was, after having explored in the vicinity of the du Loup and Metgermette, that no one could form an accurate idea of the wealth of the region unless he saw it ; and that the reports made us in regard to the mineral riches of the district were one- half what they ought to be. We discussed the matter in committee, and come ^o the conclusion that the mines were far richer than represented, and that they were just in their infancy, and that, before eighteen months, people would be jierfectly astonished at the discovery of gold in this region, So far, our experience has exceeded our anticipations when we purchased our property. Are you at all acquainted with the management of these gold mining lands ; or can you give the Committee any information or suggestion that would lead to impro- vement or a beneficial change ? Everything is in its infancy, I do not consider that the management of the gold raining lands is as proper or scientific as in California or Australia. In talking with Californians who have mined eight or ten years and on describing how the Chaudidre mines were managed, they have told us that the comparatively small quantity of gold taken out is accounted for by the slovenly way of mining. That is owing, of course, to imperfect machinery and the want of facilities for opening up the mines, and the absence of .scientific mining ? Yes. My opinion is that there will be a great change in the mode of mining during the coming season and in the character of the companies owning land there ; that whatever land, miners require will be sold or leased to them and that they will be urged to mine in a systematic and proper way. Do you think the work will be more systematic ? I have no doubt of it. 96 S. L. FRENCH— (Continued.) YoH think the same amount of labor bestowed will produce more profitable results ? Yes. Do you know if Professor Hind was ever employed professionally to makearejiort as to this region 1 The report given us was made in the manner described ; he declined making a report at first. I asked him if he was employed by the Canadian government at the time and he said no ; that he was on his way to New Brunswick and on ascertaining that he was not yet on the pay of New Brunswick, I said I did not seot why he was not in a position to do what he pleased in the matter. I said I would insist on getting a report under those circumstances. He answered he never made a report before and that he did not suppose we would pay the proper price, I said : " when I haggle about ♦' it, it is time for you to make that remark." He undertook to consider the matter and afterwards set to work to make a report. When he had written a portion, he shewed it to Sir William Logan who observed to us that he was very happy we had fallen in with so able a man as the professor, every one of whose statements, in regard to the gold fields, he could verify. Did you ascertain whether there was any veins of quartz carrying gold in that region i Yes. When on the banks of the Du Loup we made a discovery. We found a vein of quartz in the bed of tJie river. After hiring laborers and getting a quantity of earth thrown out, we opened a vein some twenty feet to see if we could discover any ore. We got a large stone hammer and broke some ten or fifteen pounds of quartz at Mr. Ray's house. We broke it up as fine we could and swept up the dust and washed it. We found nine pieces of gold in the crushed quartz. Afterwards I took perhaps ten or fifteen pounds of the same quartz and had it assayed by Professor Hays and a portion by Professor Seymour of New \ork. Both of them stated that such quartz would yield twenty dollars to the ton and yet there was not a particle of gold visible in the quartz they assayed. What colour was the quartz ? It was rather dark. Was it of an amber color ? There was an amber tint which was caused, I suppose, by iron. That was on the Du Loup. Was it near the mouth ? It was on the Du Loup above the Metgermette. On what side 1 On the east side below the portage, out from quartz taken from a vein in five pieces also that he broke out of quarters below this vein. Near the Du Loup? About a mile past it on the high grounds. Bv Mr. Taschereau: — In the same concession 1 Lot 32, range 9, on the east end of the bend of the river. Were there many miners at work where you were there? No, not in that vicinity. Some were " prospecting" and there was quite a num- ber passing and repassing. I stopped, on my return, at the Gilbert where there was a good deal of mining going on and where I bought a nugget for $300 iu gold. Professor Hind shewed me gold he hammered lot 32 in Jersey. There were some four or quartz from a vein, perhaps a mile or three 97 rofitable I a report naking a nt at the jrtaining y he was II getting efore and gle about le matter )rtion, he ' we had ments, in d in that e found a lantity of I discover I of quartz d washed k perhaps Hays and ch quartz Id visible ammered lie four or or three S. L. FRENCH— (Con«mM«rrf.) As far as you could ascertain from the miners themselves at work on the ground, what did yon learn as to the result of the working? My belief was, from all the information I got, that the miners were making, on an average, five dollars a day each. What month was that ? , In July and August. By Mr. Shanlev: — "" . What river do you mean ? ' The Gilbert. By the Chairman : — i . Were they working below that place ? I cannot tell: they might have been. I may say with regard to Mr. Herbert, who comes from California and Colorado, that he had just been about three days home from the latter when I saw him. He examined the specimens and pieces of quartz I had and the other things belonging to the mines. T asked him some questions and he afterwards made this remark in reply to information I had given him. " If your '' description is true, we have nothing in California, Colorado or Nevada that can " equal it and as soon as the snow is off the ground, you will see me up in the region. te a num- there was Id. Wednesday, "ist March, VdQb. H. B. WARD, examined. By the Chairman: — Where do you reside ? Near Cambridge, Mass. What is your profession or occupation ? I am a merchant and am at present agent of the Du Loup Gold Company. My time henceforth will be occupied, I suppose, at Beauce. Have you been engaged in gold mining? I have not been for several years; but in IS^Q, 1850 and 1851, 1 was so engaged in California. I was in the mines there a good deal of the time. In what part of California ? On the I Iba River, Rock's Bar, Deer Creek, on Stockten River, and on the North Forks uf the American River. Were you in charge of works or practically mining? Most of the time, I was there, I had a practical miner with me with wluai I spent the greater portion of the time I passed at the mines. When at the mines I usually stopped on his claim not owning one of my own individually. Were those diggings alluvial or quartz operations ? All alluvial. Was there a large number of miners employed 1 . At Rock's Bar there must have been from 300 to 500. Sometimes, while I was there, nearly 1,000 men might have been at work. The average was from 300 to 600. Were you sufficiently engaged in the mining operatiojis to be familiar with the mode of working ? If I wanted to go there again, or to any other mines, I should feel perfectly at home in tlie business. 7 H. B. WARD— (Contijiued.) From your own observation iind experience ? > Not in quartz, but in alluvial digging, and as regard sluicing, damming and working with the long torn and cradle and with the pan, I should feel perfectly at home. Have you become acquainted with the gold fields in the Chandiore Region of Canada ? I have become acquainted with those on the Du Loup and Metgcrmette. How long have you been acquainted with them I I think I left home in the 25th May last, and arrived in the above region about the 1st June I went up there in company of Professor Hind, of Toronto, and of Mr. Russell who was a miner nine years, whom I met at Russell's Hotel. We went to Mr. John Ray's property, and were there about a week prospecting. We were then joined by Mr. Saltonstall, H. S. Curtis and others, with Mr. Fisk, of Philadel|)hia, and Mr. French. They stayed there several days. During our stay, before and after their arrival, we were prospecting continually on the J)u Loup and Metgermette. Would you explain to the Committee the results of your examinations and explorations, as regards the gold found and the indication of gold ? We went out with our picks, pans, and shovels, going first to the Metgermette where we commenced work. We worked a little while in one place and then went toothers. We spent one or two days in each place, and found gold, I think I may say in every place where we dug. I don't recollect our not finding gold in more or less quantity in every place. In some places we found from 50 cents to one dollar's worth of gold in a pan of earth, and some pieces worth more than a dollar. In every panfull you would have two or three colors. I recollect that in one panfull we found 32 pieces of gold, of course very small. We sent a man to St. Mary's for a rocker, and he could get only a misernble one. We used it, and though I don't recollect exactly the amount of gold we took out in one half day by means of it, I thing it amounted to from $'t to $1 at least. Mr. Sinjohn was the man who worked with us and used the rocker. VVe worked there a couple of days and then went to the Du Loup, and went up and dowi 't within a distance of three to five miles, digging in different localities, and finding more or less gold at almost every place. It was then proposed we should go up to a hill, into a thick forest and go back from the river, to a distance of about 25 rods, I should judge. We ascended the high bank or ground which pro- fessor Hind estimated was 150 feet above the water. We here dug through seven oi eight inches of leaves, nnd then through about one foot of yellow loam, when we came to a hard substance of clay or hard slates standing edgeways. We took several panfnlls of earth from this spot, carried it down to the river and washed it, findind gold in every pan five to twenty pieces in each. Next day we v ont there and dug a new hole, measuring the earth we took out, which, Ithink, amounted to five or six bushels. Or the earth being carried down to the river and washed, it yielded a considerable quantity of gold, I think to the value of $4, $5 or $6. After Mr. French arrived, v/e went down the hill, half way, at which part he proposed digging a hole, te ascertain if we would meet with the same results. "We did so, finding gold in every part. V 'as that on the Metgermette ? No; on the Du Loup. We afterwards went about two miles up the river, and mati : imilar excavations in the hill, and found apparently the same kind of earth which yielded about the same results. While digging at a spot below, at the edge of the river, John Ray found a piece of gold worth about $1.25. , How did you find matters on the Metgermette 1 At diflferent times after that, I went there and stayed some time. That finished our prospecting on the Du Loup. I don't recollect our searching there afterwards. (lamming and el perfectly ot iore Region of ermetle. region al)OUt the id of Mr. Russell ent to Mr. John I then joined by l|»hia, and Mr. and after their rmette. laminations and the Metgermette e and then went think I may say 1 in more or less ts to one dollar's ioUar. In every pan full we found j for a rocker, and recollect exactly ing it amounted with us and used e D\\ Loup, and [Tging in different raa then proposed iver, to a distance ound which pro- through seven or n, when we came k several panfulls it, fmdind gold iu j and dug a new ive or six bushels, ed a considerable French arrived, igging a hole, te lingr rrold iu evcrv up the river, and ame kind of earth jelow, at the edge le. That finished there afterwards. 99 H. B. "WARD— (Continued.) Alter this T went home, and subsequently the owners of the land I am interested in came here and bought the property. After we had all gone tolioston, they asked me to return here and work the mines. T came back, leaving home about the 15th of July, and with some six or ten men, imnmenced working on the Metgermette. Wo made a small temporary dam, and bui r a flume 260 feet long, and out of this flume had a sluice about 90 to 100 feet. I t!:.)n cut a ditch through, above the dam, which was some 27') feet long, to draw off the water which wight be produced by rain, so that if the flume could not discharge the water fast enough the ditch would be avail- able to draw off the surplus into the river below, and thus keep the water from troubling me. I worked there with varying success. Some times we dug down only three feet before coming to the bed of clay ; but, in no instance did we reach the bed rock. Sometimes, I may repeat a descent of four or five feet brought u;? to the blue clay which was exceedingly hard. It was almost impossible to strike the crow- bar or pick into it. We worked there sometime. Col. French and his brother came up there one Saturday between the 20th and 27th of July, perhaps. We got the sluice in readiness to run that Saturday night. We went out to commence work on Monday morning, they telling us we would get no gold. I, not expecting to find any thing, was going to abandon the search. However, I went to work on Monday morning, with three or four men, to whom I said — you cannot expect any gold, as it does not lie on the top of this drift. I told Col. French and brother to come round abount five to see the result, and at this hour they returned and chaffed us about not finding any gold, after working all day. We then cleared the sluice, and discovered about half an ounce of handsome coarse gold, from that coarse drift. We went to work again, the same day with about the same result. How many men were there ? About six altogether.* We were delayed somewhat having to clear away the rocks in our way _; there were tons of them. The third day we found but little. We continued working a few days and found the clay was very hard, and the water trou- bling us somewhat. Having to come to Quebec on some other business, I discharged all the men but three till I should return, leaving, however, Mr. Kelly at work for me. Before leaving I said to him, take those two men with you, and excavate the earth under the flume between the two stakes there, which were not more than six feet sunk into the ground. He set to work with the men as I had ordered, and when I come back, about five o'clock, we proceeded to " clear up," and found in the washings an ounce and a half of handsome gold. Some of the pieces weighed over I dwt ; the average of the bits was 1 dwt.: We felt pretty much encouraged at this result. I left next morning, previously telling Kelly to dig between the two spaces and below them till my return. I was away ftom the places two working days, and a Sunday, I believe. Kelly went to work as told, and on the second day called upon a surveyor I hud there, and both, that Saturday night " cleared up." The result was not gr^at. A little gold, however, had been taken from the spot. On Monday Kelly was engaged in removing the sluice, and on Tuesday we recommenced mining, and found that day one ounce and a half of gold. After that, we moved the sluice up the stream, and some days would get an ounce of gold and others, about half an ounce, after this, T was instructed by Mr. French, who was in Quebec, to work till such a date and then take up the flume. A day or two before the time in question Kelly and I, in order to ascertain where the bed rock was, dug a hole about ten feet long and four broad ; after working two days we came to where the water rushed up through the clay ; I could see gravel coming up thick, with pebbles, and also five gravel. We got a tub and tried to bale the w^ater out, but could not keep the hole dry. I mention this to show that, in my opinion, could we have kept the water out of the way we would have found much gold at the bottom ; because every miner knows that whenever you find a few inches of gravel between the clay and the bed rock, you are sure to find a heavy deposit of gold. 100 ,j' 'I H. B. V^ARD— {Continued.) By Mr. Taschereau : — Between the clay and the bed rock ? Yes. If you dig to the bed rock and the clay goes clear down, you may abandon the spot ; but if you can get even but two inches of gravel between the clay and the bed rock, you are sure to find gold if there is any in the region. Was that trial made on the Metgermette ? Yes, where we did most of our work ; I saved the black sand we met with in digging there ; but I did not try very carefully to collect the gold from it. One can yet open the bag and shake it up, when he will see the gold among the sand. It has never been assayed. By THE Chairman : — How long were you engaged in those mines altogether — I mean on the Chau- di^re ? I had a sluice going during, but did not work half the time I had it there ; be- cause there came several heavy rains, and we could not work any more than in spring. I think we might have worked in all, including the days we worked on the Metgermette, atler I went up to build this little dam I spoke of, about 20 days. Did you spend most of the season between working and making examinations, and obtaining information with respect to the gold fields] No ; when I went up with Professor Hind and the other gentlemen, I staye^ away some thirteen days in all, and was merely engaged in prospecting. Tlie next time I left home was the 1 5th of July ; and I lell the mines on the 7th of September. I have described all I did except some prospecting with some New York gentlemen since then. Some time in November last when there was snow on the ground, I was at the mines, i prospected then with the greatest promise of success ever met with in any country. . » Do you know anything of bands of quartz 1 , We have lots of it on our property. I can trace it for miles. Is it guld-bearing ? Yes. Have you taken out any of it ? Yes, I omitted to state this: When I was with Professor Hind we took those quiartz rocks at various times and pounded them on a door step, with a hammer. We then put the broken quartz into a pan and washed it with water from a well, and in a great many instances discovered a grea*: number of pieces of gold. What color was the quartz ? It was greyish, mixed with white, and contained some little veins of slate, in fact it was of a light colour generally. I have had pieces of quartz which are now either at Boston or New York, and in which gold is visible to the naked eye. Some three or four of those bits have my name on them. Can you describe the thickness jxjsition and extent of those veins of quartz ? The largest veign of quartz on the Du Loup crosses our property. It commences on the Linidre side, in Rays land, and where you first see it cropping out it is some three of four feet above the ground, and perhaps two or three feet broad ; again it narirows to a breadth of 6 or 8 inches, and can be traced for rods, quite narrow. It again comes out at the bank, and once more gets broader. At the bank of the stream we have take^ out some tons of it, and the vein here is quite broad^seven or eight feet in some places. The vein riins hence into the river, and 1 have traced it across the Du Loiip, on tlie Jersey shore, au^ saw it a^iii cropping out very narroyir. I also followed the vein round tlxe "hill arid ujp tte Dii Loup till I came to the turn of 101 ibandon and the with ill One can . It has le Chaii- ere ; be- than in 3d on the ninations, , I stayed The next sptember. ;etitlemen ind,l was met with ook those Imer. We 11, and in te, in fact low either orrie three lartz 1 ommences is some again it it xrrow. It he stream n or eight it across larrovir. I he turn of H. B. WARD— (Continued.) tUe river, I should think about a mile and a half higher up the stream, and saw the vein cropping out again. I further followed the vein to the height of land, and traced it across this place. I heard a man who had been prospecting say he saw it cropping out considerably higher up the stream. From the description he gave me, I have no doubt it was the same vein he saw ; the direction of it would indicate such. I have not seen the vein except in the places I have stated. Did you find any other bands 1 We found quartz about twienty rods above the Metgermette Portage — a quartz vein starts up there, of a very light color. I have taken gold out there time and again, in the panful. The quartz bears a decayed color on the bank of the river — it is a kind of " rotten " rock. I went there with our mining trowels, and worked up some of this " rotten " rock, and then used the crow-bar. At different times I have taken this quartz out and washed it in the river and found gold. This vein crosses in the direction towards the Du Lonp River, and this same quartz appears to be the same which crops out close to the Du Loup. We traced the direction from the side of the Metgermette. Again, if you corae towards the Du Loup, perhajw some twenty rods from the stream, you see it coming out again wider and seemingly thinner. A. H. Whitcher, Surveyor, at Sherbrooke, who came up to make a survey, spoke of having found and taken Lome with him a piece of quartz which, by the description given of it and of where found, I believe to be some of the vein which I traced on the side of the Metgermette, as first described. Over what extent of country do these portions pass ? How many miles would all those enibiace? If it is the same vein from the MetgerTiette down to the Du Loup it would be over a mile in length. Then on the other side where we crossed to the part of our Jersey property, it might be two miles from where I started to trace the vein to where Whitcher found it cropping out again. What is the general bearing of the vein by the compass, is it north-east or south-west ? I would say it runs from north-cast to south-west. Has any of this quarts: been assayed ? I renlly cannot tell. Col French told me he did make an assay ; it was, to the best of my recollection so favorable, that 1 should not like to state the result here. You are satisfied now that the rock has been assayed, that gold exists where it was found in paying quantities 1 Yes, and in much larger quantity than in the mines of Nova Scotia. A gentleman from there told me that, in the quartz there, you might look for gold with your naked eye but you could not discover any, still they were obtaining good results. Here, in several instances, I picked up pieces of quartz in which gold was visible. Where is this property of yours situated t It is in the eight and ninth ranges of Jersey, that is our Du Loup property. We also own four lots oi the Lini^re side of the Du Loup. The Metgermette lies in the township of Lini6re, all in the county and district of Beauce. It is some twenty-five miles distant from DeL6ry's property. From your experience on the Chaudi^re and elsewhere, what is your opinion of the present mode of licensing ; do you think the rate asked is too high and the spaces granted too small, or the time for which license is granted too short; and what would you suggest as best calculated to encourage the opening of the mines'? My opinion would differ, perhaps, from that of most people who have been tliere ; I should be very much more liberal with the miners than has been the 102 i ' • H. B. WAB,D—(Contviued.) custom hitherto, I should give them larger claims if I owned the property individually, and should give them longer time to work them, and at lower prices, at any rate for this year. , . Can you suggest any thing as to the time that would be must desirable, the rate that would be most reasonable, and with respect to other things that it would be best to do ? I do not know if my employers would allow mc to do so. They have instructed me what size of lot I may sell to the miners. They suggest laying out claims twenty- five by fifty feet on the Du Loup. Is that alluvial ? Yes, there has not been much said to nie about working on quartz. This land has not been developed. Mr. Kay tells me that, fourteen years ago, three or four gentlemen came to it. They worked on the Metgermette on exactly the same place as we did last summer. He tells me that they found gold enough to afFird them good wages for working, without machinery of any kind. At the end of the season they fixed up every thing, expecting to come back next year ; but he never saw or heard of them after. Sir William Logan gave an account of the richness of the gold lands up there, as the portion he described in the tract including those streams. There appears to be some reason why these lands were not worked ; but I cannot tell what it is exactly. It appears to me to be the interest of our company, of all the owners of those mineral lands, and of everybody in Canada, to induce miners to proceed to that region, set tc work and develop the mineral resources of that portion of the country. In order to do so — as it is not being done under the present system — I should be very liberal indeed with the miners, to whom I would say — " Go there and set to work, and mine six mouths without paying any thing." As compared with the portion of California you saw, how stands the Chaudi^re country in regard to water power for driving machinery, washing and other purposes'? I never saw anything better. Do you consider it better than California 1 Yes ; better than anything I ever saw. Is not the existence of water power in the spot of very great value in forwarding successful working ? Certainly. At the Metgermette there is just about the right fall of water, you may sluice anywhere, and carry the water through some 50 acres of flat land, and even turn the whole river through the sluice over an equal distance, from one place to another. I cut a ditch to discharge from our property the waste water ; after I left there came a heavy rain, and swept away my dam. After some weeks the water fell again, and the ditch became quite dry. On my return, and when I had got within twelve njiles of the place a man named McCarroU said — " you left too quick ; they found lots of gold since you left. ; they went up to your ditch and picked it up by the half pound ; I bought some from a man who said he just went to your ditch and " poking " the dirt with a stick, where it had been sluiced throughly, "turned up the gold." I was told also tliat parties went in on their hands and knees and turned np gold in any quantity in the ditch. The whole of the 50 acres mentioned offer as good a prospect as that ditch. The operation we performed there was ground sluicing. In November when I went to where I had cut the ditch there was snow on the ground and ice on the river. In half a day we dug a few holes through the snow, when a New York man present who had never seen a panful of earth washed in that way, washed out in a short time $2 or $3 worth of gold. The driver, who had conveyed us from Quebec to the mines, poked about a while in the earth on the hill, and found a piece of gold in the gravel. I never saw such a good prospect as in that locality. In this very field where I cut the sluice, the driver already spoken 103 I H. H. WARD'-(Contiwied.) of took up some earth and on washing a imnfnl in the rivor, found two or three pieces of gold wortli uue dollar. I never saw such a prospect as this iu Culiibrnia itself. , By Mr. .Shanly: — ' ■ ^ Have you been on the Portage ? I have never been at work there at all. I have been at the (iilbcrt and Des Plantes, but not to do any work. The whole of you work was done on the Metg.rniettcf Yes; All the work was done there except the prospecting. By the Chairman: — . ». What company is building an IFotel there ? The Du Loup Company. For which you are agent ? Yes. • . ■ The Conipiiny for which Mr. Salterstal is an agent? Yes. I luu now getting together the materials tor the building. T have over 1000 pine U)gs to saw, for the Hotel in question and other purposes. I have got the limber out and am making shingles for the roofinii, as also all other necessary prepa- rations. At present 1 have got teams to take up there loads of nails, Sec. By the Chairman: — You are preparing to go on this season ? Yes. We intend to build an Hotel this season. At present there is really no good place in the district to stop at. We want to have there a good store and residence for miners and travellers. Have applications been made to you for mining locations? There have been some, but not many lately, as I have not been at the plaee, to meet applicants. Mr. Kelly has taken a claim since he went there, and wai.ts to proceed thither with four or six men. Iu fact he has made a purtiul bargain with them to gi with them to the mines. Have there been other applications made ? Yes. During the time I was last at the mines, when I had no authority tn sell or lease any land, almost daily miners came to mo for claims, and had to go away disappointed, not being able to get any land. This hurt the lands. They had come up, in many cases, from the Gilbert River ready to go to work. Had you been in a position to meet the wishes of the miners, to what extent would they have taken claims ? While there last summer, I might have let some 50 or 100 men go to work. By Mr. Shanly: — Have you purchased the fee simple of those lands, or the mining rights simply 1 Th*? Du Loup Com|)any first purchased the Jers(!y Property, which contains over 6000 acres, but only own the mining rights. They have, however, the privilege of procuring a fee title by paying so much an acre. Is that from the Government ? No. From .Tohn Ray himself, — (Metgermette.) The other property they hold directly from IMr. Glover. spoken 104 Mond(ij/,6th Feljnatr7/,\B65. Evidence of F. T. JUDAH, Crown Land Department. Are yon not clerk of the Crown Domain, &c. in the Crown Lund De))nrtniont,niul aa&uch huve the manngment of the gold mining interest in Canada lilnst } 1 am, under the direction of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Are all documents and correspondence relative to the gold (iolds transferred to you by the head of your department, if not who has the custody of them ( All papers on that subject, are supposed to be adressed to the Coinmissioner of Crown Lands, and being duly registered in the Rogirjter Office of the department, are transferred to me. Have you visited the raining region in the Chaudii-re country, and if so when, with what object, and how often ? I have visited it twice, first in the full of 1863, for the pnrnose uf vMJfying general reports, as to the mining going on there, and again in April ISG-l-, to report on the coming seasons prospects; on each occasion I reported to the Conimissioiicr oint. The Gilbert stream at high water, is about 15 to 20 feet wide ; but the width in the dry season, is very inconsiderable. 107 F. T. 3VDAK— (Continued.) No steps have been taken to lay down the principle as to whether the bed of a river is to be defined from high water or low water mark ? I understand the law states it is to be fixed at ordinary high water mark. '■ > Without any rule you understand that the law gives you the high water mark ? Yes ; the depth of water in the sluice at the Gilbert in • September, 1863, was about 2 inches. They had very nearly the whole of the stream in the sluice at Hagen & Companys,for mining purposes on that river. The sluice wasa)K>ut 18 inches wide with about the same depth. The water of the stream was not more than a few inches in depth. By THE Chairman — Did the sluice discharge all the water passing at that place ? A great portion of it. There was ncae running over the dam 1 ' T did not go ap to the dam ; but you could see how much water came down at the sluice. The »^epth of the water in the sluice was about 2 inches and the leakage from the dam was trifling. T judge of it from what T saw passing in the lower part or bed of the river. From the dryness of the season, I mean September, 1863 — the water was very inconsiderable. Did you ever know of any timber or saw logs passing down that river to market or to the mills ? Never. Do you think it capable of floating them ? I doubt very much if it is ; unless during very high water — in spring. Do you know if those streams are generally interrupted by falls and rough rapids ? I am not aware ; never having explored the rivers from thoir mouths, except the Gilbert. Are you acquainted with *he main Chaudi6re ? Yes, by having seen it while going up and down. By Mr. Taschepeau : — Not the upper part ? I have seen it as far up as the Tapper Falls above .Tersey Point. By the Chairman : — How far would that be from its mouth ? Close on seventy miles. I make it sixty-six to .Trrsfy Point and altogether about seventy miles to the falls. You mentioned that 1863 was an unusually dry season. Tn other parts of Canada 1864 was a much dryer one, and the water in the rivers was lower. Do you know any thing of the condition of the Gilbert in 1864< ? No ; I did not go up that river in 186+, except in April. It was in a dry condition in September 1863 ? Yes. In that portion of the Chaudi^re wliich you have seen are iliere interruptions by falls at any place ? There are the Devils Rapids at St. Francis. »!i lOS F. T. JVpAll—(Cmtinued.) Are there any others ? I did not remark any until you get down to the large falls near its mouth. There m.ight be some inconsiderable ones. I don't recollect having noticed them particularly. Can rafts, timber or saw logs pass over those falls or rapids ? I believe logs are floated down the Chaudidre, but not any rafts that I know of. In the time of high freshets ? In spring. I saw logs_in Septeinber 1863, which had been left hi^h an(J diy below the upper falls. By Mr. Shanly : — . Had they reached their destination there 1 No. They had come to places from which they could not get out. Where they in the bed of the river when you saw them ? They were lying on shelves in the rocks. I suppose they had got there by the eddy, and that it had not been considered worth the trouble to bring them out. Were they in the shoals or in the bed of river ? It is hard for me now to say which. Were they in the ordinary water channel 1 They were on species of shelves of the rocks where they had been worked up as I suppose, by eddies. Where was that ? At the lower one of the two upper falls. Did you ever know of any rafts of timber coming down? No. Do you think it possible to bring rafts of timber down that stream, over the falls ? I believe it is not usual to bring rafts of timber over falls of any kind, but I would not like to give a decided opinion on that point not being a lumber man. From what I heard I understood all the timber was brought down that rivf r in loose logs. Do you mean saw logs ? Yes. What is the width oi' the Chaudi^re where you have seen it ? — The ordinary width I It varies. In some places I should think it is almost a quarter of a mile wide ; in others only a few hundred yards. Can you tell anything about the depth of water between the rapids and the falls 1 No. I just looked at the river while travelling along, and had no object in examining it. Had you any legal advice, or did you consult the law officers of the crown on the subject before issuing this letter of 15 September, 1864? I did not speak to the law officers of the crown before suggesting the letter. I founded my opinion on the decision of the Judges of the seigniorial court. When ? The decision in the seigniorial act of 1854. I remember referring to the opintou of the chief Justice in order to see whether he placed floatable rivers in the same lOd F. T. JJJDAU— (Continued.) bdtegory as navigable rivers. I can state positively I did not consult the Attorney General ; but I am not certain whether I spoke to Mr. Futvoye, Clerk of the Crown Law Department or not. Give us the names of the persons who took out licenses with their dates ? There were issued in 1864-, under the Gold Mining Act, 18 Crown lands and 43 private lands licenses, fVoiri 2 to 16, under date 1st of September, " Crown Lands licenses " appear to have been used by the return ou the license books, for working in the bed of the river Famine. To whom issued 1 * To James Parke. By Mr. Taschereau — ' Were the other licenses for this river or for floatable rivers ? The returns to the other Crown Lands licenses does state where applied. Your license book here shews from 3 to 16 inclusive to be licenses issued, but the record is blank. How do you explain that ? I conclude from that, the licenses were all granted to the same individual, as No. 2. By what means can you tell 1 Mr. De Bellefeuille furnished an account, and I believe that in it the same name name is continued through, froih 2 to 16. The first appears to have been issued on the 1st of September ? Yes, I conclude that all the others were issued as the same day. Do you mean to say that since the 1st of September, you have made no record of what has been issued, I speak of those from 3 to 16 ? Mr. De Bellefeuille furnished an account in which the money received for those licenses was entered, and returned to the Department. Were the 14 licenses issued between the 1st and the 15th September, and you have nothing to shew when they were given out or to whom 1 I have the above mentioned account in addition to the book. Are you in the habit of issuing licenses in this form, and keeping no record of them ? It n, ;;s not I who kept the book. r>o V ". be'ieve that the 14 licenses were all iJssued, ftom the 1st September, to the same ivv j?arke ? Yes. And were for mining licenses in the bed of the river Famine ? I believe they were so issued. When the Inspector of gold mines wrote to you about the issuing of those licenses on the Famine, did you decide whether it was a floatable river or not ? Decidedly not. We left it to the inspector Who was on the spot to decide what was a floatable river or not, and merely gave instructions that under the Miving Act, parties working on floatable rivers were obliged to take the Glrowa Lr" *;, License. 1 lifcre was no legal advice, no means taken to determine the point to a certainty^ each man was to proce*!,! on his own judgment ? He was not noisitively told that ; but that it was understood he would. The instrucHons giv.u were geiieral, as to what the Inspector was to do, in those cases. no F. T. JUDAH— {Continued.) Is the Mining Inspector under you — does he not receive his instructions from you ? He receives his instructions from the Head or Deputy Head of the Department, through my branch. I conduct the correspondence, subject to the instructions and approval of such Head or Deputy Head. Did you ever give the Gold Mining Inspectors any instructions as to what river was to be regarded as floatable or not 1 Never. By Mr. Shanly — With regard to the licenses in the Seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudreuil, how many have been issued there ? No licenses were issued there at all. It is under special Letters Patent. Have any measures been taken, and what, by your department, to bring the ■question of Royalty to an issue, as between the Department and the Seigniory T The question has been submitted by l r ""f purtment to the Attorney General East, in a letter dated 1864, submitting the c^ ondence between the Government and Mr. De Lery, and asking for advice and , opinion ; there was a subsequent letter sent to the Attorney General, calling his attention to the matter. Two letters have been submitted to the Attorney General 1 Yes. You have not had the opinion 1 No. "What are the dates of those letters ? I cannot exactly tell now ; but will supply copies, as asked, with the consent of the Head of my Department. Did those letters go through your Department 1 Yes ; through my branch. By the Chairman — Have any instructions or directions to the Gold Mining Inspectors been issued through you in the ordinary way, and the Assistant Commissioner since June last, . other than the letter of I5th September 1 There have been other instructions to the Gold Mining Inspectors on general matters since the general ones at the beginning of the season. For instance, at the end of the season, they were told to report, and send their papers, &c.,to the Depart- ment. Were there any letters written respecting management as to claims, as to the position of claims, and as to the rights of parties to claims 1 I will look into the matter, and furnish information if there is any. I supply copy of a letter of instructions to Mr. de Bellefeuillle, dated 10th October, ISG*, in reply to one addressed by him to the department on 3rd same month, in relation to apprehended conflicting claims of a proprietorship. — " {Copy-) Sir, 111 F. T. S\J\) Ml— {Continued.) " DEPARTMENT OF CROWN LANDS, : / s '■ " JESUITS ESTATES AND CROWN DOMAIN BRANCH, « Quebec, 10th Octol)er, 1864. " I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, and enclose herewith copy of list of lands patented and sold in Watford " As mining licenses are not given for particular lots, but to any individual who may apply for one, the difficulty you apprehend and mention in the latter part of your letter, can only come up in case of twt) or more licensed parties asserting preference to work under distinct and separate claims of proprietorship. Should such a question come before you, in any case as Gold Mining Officer, and you should be unable to determine the right of proprietorship, from the documents wiiich might be laid before you, you could then ask the department for advice or information in the matter." , I have the honor to be, Sir, . . Your obedient servant, (Signed,) ANDREW RUSSELL, Assistant Commissioner. C. L. DeBellefeuille, Esquire, G. M. Inspector, St. Fran9ois de la Beauce. Have any government lands been sold in the mining region since the Act of June, 1864 ? I have nothing to do with the sale of lands, and can't tell you. I presume there have been sales under the order in council, promulgated 15th August. This is in a different branch ? Yes. I take it for granted there have been sales, from the sa^eg having been resumed. Do you know any thing of the applications for lands 1 No. As they are sent to Mr. Genereux. Can you state the whole number of licenses that are now issued, and in operation 1 There are none now in operation. All the licenses are lapsed. Can you tell the full number taken out since the passing of the Act 1 There have been 18 Crown Lands licenses issued since the passing of the Act in 1864, and 43 " private lands licenses," See answer to a former question. At what places have they been issued ? All the Crown Land Licenses, with the exception of two, appear to have been issued in Watford. As to the other two in the Book, I am unable to say for what locality ; there being no return of labour performed. Do those include the sixteen licenses for the river bed of the Famine, spoken of Yes. What was the total 1 • . Eighteen. 112 F. T. 3 UD AH— (Continued.) Sixteen for the river bed, and two others ] There are three others ; one for Watford ; I cannot speak as to whether it is for the bed of the river. As to the others however, 17 and 18, there being no return, I am unable to state where the parties worked. The license is a general license, allowing a man to work where he chooses. It is only by the returns we can ascer- tain correctly as to this matter. • By Mr. Taschkreau — Suppose a number of miners wanted licenses, where would they have to apply ? To the department, I suppose. Is there any thing settled by the department as to that I We do not anticipate any thing, as there is no mining going on except in the Seigniory of Kigaud-Vaudreuil. In case applications were made for right to mine on Government lands, to whom must they be sent ? I presume ifwe found there was any necessity for it, a mining Oflicer would have to be sent to the mining district at once. And applications made to him on the spot ? Yes. In spring a mining OflBcer will have to be sent up. It was because there was no expectation that mining would go on in the Crown Lands this winter, that a mining officer was not continued there during this season. lUh Februanj, IS65. Extracts from Evidence of JOSEPH RIGG, River Gilbert. Are you a practical working gold-miner ? Yes. Have you been mining in the Chaudidre mining region, if so, please state for what period, and with what results ? Yes j during the year 1864, and with indifferent success. Are you working under a license, and is it on public or private lands ? No ; on the Seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudreuil, where no license was exacted. Do you still continue your mining operations, and if so, do you find it as remu- nerative in winter as summer, if not, why not 1 No ; but from a knowledge of what mining has been carried on on the Gilbert River, I am of opinion that the hill diggings, which have been the only kind worked this winter, can be carried on as profitably as during the summer, for the following reason : several claims were worked during the summer and fall adjoining those now working ; during that time they were greatly troubled with soakrge-water, and in most instances it took some time every day to pump out the water before they could commence work, and many times as much as half a day. During winter they have not been troubled that way, and hare only had a sufficiency of Water to wash the pay-dirt with. Have you prospected over various parts of the Chaudidre country, if so, please state where, and what opinion have you formed of it as a gold-bearing countrj , and if you think the mines can be worked on a much more extended 6oale than at pre- sent, and be remunerative ] 113 JOSEPH RIGG— (Continued.) I have only prosi>ected on the River Gilbert, and a tributary of it in the seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudroiiil. I am of opinion that in that jmrticnlar part of the mining region, there arc rich deposits of gold, and if ilities are given for the proper explo- ration of the same, there is no doubt that larj. prolits will be the result. What sized nuggets liave you ever found on the Chaudicre, or seen found by others '. Two nuggets, value $300 each; one, value $200 ; two, value $120 each, and several of the value ui, "1)100, $7n and $50. These nuggets I have sceji found by others. Have you sceii ijiiartz veins in the mining region and, if so, where and to what extent do yon think tliat they exist or extend, and what is your opinion of the quality of the quartz, or is there any means of assaying it there, or where can it be assayed ? I have .seen several quartz veins ; two in particular in the seigniory of Rigaud- Vaudreuil, and several up the River du Loup. The two in the seigniory of Rigaud Vaudreuil, I have every reason to believe, extend from the River Chaudidre to the River Gilbert, a distance of at least two miles. There is no means of assaying there, and the nearest place, I believe, is New York. My opinion is, that from the great number of quartz veins which intersect the greater portion of the gold-mining region, and guided in a measure by the reports of several geologists, that gold does really exist in the quartz and in some veins in large quantities, that it must eventually become one of the permanent branches of industry and wealth in the Province. From inquiries 1 have made from Nova Scotians and others, I find that a quartz-mill complete, can be bought, put np and set working for the small sum of five thousand dollars, capable of crushing from fifteen to twenty tons per twenty-four hours. This branch of industry would come within the means of numbers of small capitalists. Several of the miners, myself among the number, have debated on the subject, and we intend, if proper facilities are given us, to form a company in the spring to work one of the numerous veins. There is one great difficuly in the way, that is to get quartz assayed ; at the present time New York is the r.earest place, to go there is a great expense and loss of time. I would luinibly .^suggest to the Government the appointment of a scientific man for the purpose of assaying the quartz, giving him, as an ind:icement to come, a fixed salary for the term of six months, and. Independently of that, I feel sure such a person could make it xexy rernimerative, and it would be the means of the principle portion of the quartz veins being tested, and if found of a paying quality, of at once starting great numbers of mills which would add considerably to the revenue of the Province. Are you aware of any precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies, pearls, ice, having been found, and, if so, have they been of any value, and to what extent '? I have seen one ruby taken out on the Gilbert by the Stephenson Company. I have also seen hundreds of pearls taken out of the Famine and the small streams in that part of the country, the majority of them of no value, but some of them very beautiful, and the size of a marrowfat pea. The largest price I ever knew given for one pearl was twenty-five dollars. I know of a great many having been bought at from one to five dollars. Extracts from the Evidence of Dp. REED. Can you explain the course now followed in obtaining licenses, rights or claims for raining purposes 1 The course now followed for obtaining gold mining licenses is clearly set forth in the gold mining bill of 1864. 8 114 Dr. B,EED—(Contimcpd.) Can yon give the Commiltee an idea of the extent ol'tlie golds fields and cliaractcr of Hie eonntry ? From personal experience I can state that I have found gokl in the alhivions on all the tributaries of the Chaudiire from Lnke Megantic as far down as the parish of St. .foseph. 1 also found gold on the Etchemin and several of its tributaries and on several brancdies of the St. .Tohn's river. Towards the West I found gold on the St. Francis, in the townships of Lnmbton, Stratford, Weedon, Garthby and South Ham. Immense quantities of iron pyrites occur in the township of Garthby, containing gold. This pyrites is similar to that found in Nevada is there dcsulpherized and made to yield paying quantities of gold. For a general description of the gold fields and chnracter of the country, 1 beg to refer you to the valuable work of Sir W. E. Logan on the (Ecology of Canada published in ]8().3. Do you know to what extent the gold fields of the Chaudiere country have been worked, and what have been the residts? The gold fields of the Chaudifire have been worked to a very limited extent ; indeed I may say, so far they have only been but partially prospected. Operations were first commence by Dr. J. Douglas about sixteen years ago in the parish of St. Francis. The result was satisfactory but the doctor was so annoyed the way he was robbed that he abandoned working, in disgust. Pretending to have the exclusive right of mining in the parish of St. Francis, lie prevented to a certain extent any very large operations from being carried on for a number of years ; nevertheless the hftbitan's and a few returned Australians and Californians secretly carried on mining profitably. A couple of years ago Dr. Douglas sold out part of his rights in the DeLery patent to a Company who attempted quartz mining at the DeviPs Rapids • nd got out some splendid specimens of gold in quartz. On this discovery becomi g known to John (D'Farrell, blsq., advocate, the proprietor of the land on which the quartz was found, he put a stop to any further mining operations on his property, alleging the DeLery patent to be illegal. In the years 1851 and 1852 the Canada Gold Mining Company tried a very imiwrtaut experiment at the junction of the rivers Chaudi6re and l3u Loup, with the most satisfactory results. For a minute description of this experiment see Sir W. E. Logan's work on Geology published in 1863 pages 739 and 745. The result of this experiment proved clearly that gold mining could be carried on profitably in Canada. In 1863, rich digging having been found on lots 19,20 and 21 in the DeLery con- cession of St. Francis, numbers rushed to this spot and in spite of the DeLery patent land owners and other impediments, took out a very large amount of gold. In a short time these diggings were declared by gold miners to be as rich as those found in Australia or California ; a great many made large sums of money and amazingly large nuggets were taken out. Some four or five acres of land were turned over and the work was prosecuted far on into the month of December with profitable results. During the summers of 1862 and 1863, rich diggings were found on the Famine river in Watford ; men, women and children rushed to this spot and all were hand- somely rewarded for their trouble. Some nuggets over half a pound weight were found here. The lands in the township of Watford being open for sale by the government were at once bought up and a company, called the Chauditire Gold Mining Company of Boston, was formed on a part of these lands. During the same season 1863, the Stafford stream and that portion of the Chaudidre river, including the great and lesser Chaudidre Falls in the Townships of Jersey and Shanley were prospected and found to contain rich diggings. The lands in the locality were bought from the farmers at very high figures, and a Company called the Stafford River and Chaudidre Gold Mining Company, was formed on these lands. Gold in the quartz 115 ields ami iivioiis on parish of iries and »ld on the id South ontttiniiig •i/ed and try, I beg f Canada lave been d extent ; irs ago in ) annoyed . Francis, led on for ilions and jvy patent out some n to John found, he e DeLery a very with the tsir W. E. t of this Canada. ery con- ry patent a short found in gly large and the ults. n Famine re hand- ght were ! by the re Gold the same ncluding ley were e bought iver and le quartz Dr. REED— (Continued.) was found at this point. During the summer of 1864, this company had explorations made on a more extensive scale by practical miners from the United States with the most favorable results. Explorations were made on the Du Loup and its tributaries by a great many parties with favoralii^ results. The greit mass of gold got out luring the years 1864 and 1865 was obtained from the Gilbert river from lots 17, IS, 19, 20 and '21 in the DeLery concession of the Parish of St. Francis, seigniory Rigaud-Vaudreuil. Hundreds of miners worked on tliese lots during the summer months and late into the fall ; about forty are still at work and all, who have worked steadily, and with anything like system, have been well paid, for their labor, and had no difficulties existed, caused by the De Lery Pa- tent, twice the amount of gold would have been taken out. Have you ever seen quartz goldm si/u on the Chaudi^re or any of its tributaries ; if so will you please state in what Township or Seigniory and to what extent ? I have seen gold in the quartz in situ in the Parish of St. Francis and in the Townships of Cranbournc, Walford, Jersey and Shenley. I have also seen gold in. the quartz e« situ in the Parish of Saint Sylvestre and in the Township of Leeds. In what form is gold found in the localities you are acquainted with and what are the different modes of working t The gold is found in dust, coarse gold and nuggets, some weighing over a pound, it is associated with quartz, slate and iron pyrites. Gold has also been found in quartz: veins. The modes adopted for extracting the gold are by panning, cradling, sluicing and wingdamming the beds of the rivers. There has, so far, been no quartz mining in the Chaudidre District. Are you aware of any precions stones, such as Diamonds, Rubies, Pearls &c., having been found, and, if so, have they been of any value and to any extent and where found ? Precious stones. Diamonds, Rubies and Pearls have been found at several places in the Chaudi^re District. One of these pearls was sold for $700. In answer to query 12. The gold mining Inspector should be kept permanently at the diggings to see that order and quiet prevail and to keep the Government regularly informed of all that is going on. The gold mining community have been, without exception, per- fectly satisfied with the conduct of the present gold mine Inspector C. L. de Belle- feuille, Esquilre. Have you formed any idea in your own mind as to a better system of developing the ressources of the gold region, and, if so, will you please communicate it to the Committee 1 As permanent gold mining will depend on the richness of the auriferous quartz, the erection of quartz mills, crushers, &c., and the desulpherizing of gold bearing iron Pyrites and other substances with which gold is combined ; I would advise the government to appoint a competent assayer to reside in the Chaudidre district who, for a small salary, together with certain fees, would examine all specimens of quartz or gold beiiring subtances and other minerals. He should be obliged to keep a regular registrar of all his assays both for the information of the government as well as for the use of the public. As immense sums of money will be made out of the washing of the alluvions by large companies of capitalists, who will erect hydraulic works on a large scale, and invest millions of dollars in such works, every legislative facility should be afforded them, such as the right of passing their sluices or ditches across private lands by compensating the owners, the compensation to be established by arbitrators and for the building of dams &c. Similar rights and privileges should' be given these companies as those enjoyed by railway companies. 8« 116 Dr. REED— (Co/i«iM«frf.) Can you ix)intout any other special i)oints in the Act of last session wliich you conceive ought to be amended and how ? The most important point to be regulated is the great disputed question of the De Lery patent. It is impossible that gold raining can ever be carried on in pursuance of the conditions of this patent. No company or miner can alTord to pay a royalty of ten per cent to the Crown on gold mines besides being obliged to pay the owners of De L6ry patent and the proprietors of the lanu a further sum. It has been and always will be the cause of litigation and perjury and the loss immense revenue to the country. An enactment should decide that the beds of rivers and floatable streams for gold mining purposes should be the properties of the owners of the lands on each side of said rivers and streams, the middle of the river to be declared the front of each lot. The gold Commissioner should be a permanent officer JO carry out the gold mining Act and not to be controlled by private letters from the Crown Lands Department that the public know nothing of. This branch of public affairs should be under the department of the Hon. the Provincial Secretary. Do you consider the present size for claims for quartz mines sufficiently large to induce parties to erect sufficiently extensive buildings for carrying on a quartz mines ? The present size of claims for quartz mining are not sufficiently large to induce par- ties to erect extensive buildings. The claims should be four times as large. The govern- ment must adopt a more liberal policy if they wish to see capitalists invest large amounts of money in the erection of quartz mills. The Government must not try, at least for a few years, to draw any large direct revenue firom gold mining or, in fact, any other kind of mining. Allow the capitulist to go in and develop the mineral resources of the country, open up roads, and fill the mining region with an industrious and hardy set of miners. These would consume a very large amount of dutiable goods, coming into the country whence the government would deriye increased revenue. Do you approve of the system now in practice oinot selling the Crown lands for mining purposes, or do you think it would be more to the advantage of the country to survey the public lands and sell them, as is done with the copper lands on Lakes Huron and Superior ? The best plan the government can pursue with the Crown lands is to have them surveyed as heretofore in regular lots, and not into mining blocks embracing only an acre or so on each side of the rivers or streams, as was done under the regulations of the 22nd of April, 1864. Such a system, if pursued, would not only put a stop to gold mining, but also to a settlement of the country. The landa could never be laid ofT hereafter in a regular jnanner, and farmers or gold diggers in the rear could never get to the river. The land being laid off in regular lots should be sold at a reasonable price, but paid all cash down, say from 30 to 60 cents an acre. Parties purchasing lands under this system will take care to have them well developed. It will be time enough for the Government hereafter to lay a duty on all minerals exported from the country or obtained from the mines. The healthy system of taxing lands, and compelling land- owners to open roads will not allow any speculator to hold lands without developing their resources. It must be remembered that the best mines of gold, copper, and lead have been discovered by actual settlers in this country. The opening of colonization roads in the Chaudi^re District is of the utmost importance. The Government road through the Townships of Jersey, Marlow, Hisborough, and Spalding to Lake Megantic, and that through Lambton, Adstock, Thetford, and Ii eland should be opened up at once. The lands on both these routes are being taken up by actual and intending settlers^ who, I have no doitbt, will make most important mineral discoveries in these lands. Jiil 117 hich you of the De )ursiiance ■oyalty of jwners of [ the loss of rivers s of the ' the river ermanent ite letters is branch 'rovincial itly large 1 a quartz duce par- te govern- 3 amounts t least for any other sources of md hardy s, coming lands for country to on Lakes ave them g only ail ilations of 3p to gold le laid off uld never price, but ids under nough for ountry or ing land- ?veloping ave been I roads in I through mtic, and at once. settlers^ ;se lands. Dr. reed— (Continued.) In reference to floatable Rivers, would the carrying out of the iloatable River order be likely to make the settler ■; assume a hostile attitude to the miners? Undoubtedly it would have this eflect ; what farmer or any other i^rson would stand by and see his gardens and fields, which are overflowed in the spring, dug up by the miners and roads made through his property in all directions by parties going to the so called bed of the rivers. The parties who took out licenses last full, un.. jr this rule, were threatened with violence by the owners of the land ; they were also threatened with law proceedings for trespassing in going over private lands to get to the bod of the river. What is your opinion as to the expediency of that order ? I am of opinion that such an order should not have been issued. It cannot be enforced except by violence and bloodshed and will be the means of greatly retar- ding the developement of the gold mines. Extract from Evidence of MICHAEL CAHILL, PoRtnuister, Jersey Toint. Tn answer to various questions saiil : " I have been in that district for thirteen years and have seen gold found in the Chaudi6re, and Du Loup, Famine, Metgermette, Travi'll(>rs Rest, Portage, Kempt stream, Oliva stream, Lindsay stream, and tlie Stafford Brook. Also, on the Trout stream, which falls into the Chaudi«^re in the upper part of .Tersey, and several other Rivers. The mines can be worked, I believe, to make them pay as I can say from experience among the inhabitants of .Jersey. For my own part, t have bought gold from them fur ten yeais past to the amount oi from two hundred to a thousand dol- lars each year. " 1 have seen i>o]d in large luiggcts taken from the Falls of the Chaudiere and from the Du Loup, 1 have seen one nugget of 11 ounces, another of 19 dwts, 17 grains and one of 16 dwts. I have broken up » piece of quartz with a hammer and taken gold out of the same, to the amount of sixteen dollars, and have seen several other pieces of vein quartz in them from the Chaudiere and the Du Loup. I saw last summer two very nice pieces of vein quartz with gold in them which were found on the Du Loup, not far from Jersey Point. Extracts from Evidence of THOMAS GLOVEU, Esquire. In answer to query 6. I have found gold in St. Joseph, St. George, Vaudrcuil, Aubert Gallion, Aubin de L'Isle, .Jersey, Linicre in the county of Beauce ; in the Beaurivage River, St. Sylvester, county of Lotbiniere, and in the mountains of the township of Colraine. In answer to query 7. Twice last year, 1 was through the Chaudiere district, and saw many miners at work, or seekinp; for gold, and, in all instances, these parties were satisfied with their earnings, but complaining of want of machinery to have line gold. I have been a considerable buyer of gold for the last eighteen months from the miners. In answer to query 8. I have seen gold in quartz and quartzite rocks, in situ, in Liniere, St. Joseph, St. Sylvester and Colraine. In answer to query 9. Gold is found in gravel, sand, clay, schist and quartz veins, and in the form of fine gold e,nd nuggets disseminated in quartz. Large quantities of black sand are found ii ; 118 THOMAS GLOYER— (Continued.) in our gold fields when seeking for gold, which is very valuable and which has not hitherto been saved. This sand with visible gold is estimated to be worth from JE40 to JS200 sterling per ton, and without visible gold from J615 to £20 sterling per ton. In some parts of our gold fields, a largo quantity of iron pyrites is found, this is highly auriferous, but requires nic^ treatment to extract the gold. All the pyrites is thrown away by our minors as well as the bliick sund. The modes of working have been by the pan, the Long Tom cradle and sluicing, but no means Imve been adopted to save fine gold from which cause more gold is lost than saved. In answer to query 12. The present system of licenses is a total failure. Instead of $2 per month, it should be ^2 or $3 jier annum, and this money should be a])[)lied to the maintenance of an efficient mounted police with the necessary Gold Commissioners, with the powers of a magistrate to settle disputes and claims on the spot. In Australia, the charge for a license is 20 per annum. In answer to query 13. From the large importance which our gold fields have now assumed, and the extent and value of the mineral resources of this country, from Gasp6 to Lake Superior, I would strongly urge the committee to recommend in their report the appointment of a Minister of Mines with a seat in the Cabinet. I think it woul be a fatal and short sighted policy on the part of the Government of this country to attempt to raise a revenue from this new branch of industry before it is fully developed. On the contrary, I think the government ought to give every facility in their power to assist these new undertakings. In answer to query 1 9. I am not ai all interested in the DeLery patent. My opinion is that the practical effect of the DeLery patent has been to initiate operations in om mining districts to open up these places to trade, and immigration and to attract thither foreign capital. It has also had the effect of promoting the establishment of mining companies and associations which though, at first of small importance, are now organized on a large scale. It has also hud the effect of increasing to a considerable degree the value of real estate in these localities. My attention was first Hrected to the Chaudi^re district from the fact of the existence of this patent ; I think that the committee ought strongly to recommend that all obstructions put in the way by other parties ought to be removed, so that the DeLery family or their representatives can work the gold fields, under the DeLery patent. In answer to query 24^ in respect to floatable rivers. If such an order exists, in common justice to those who hold lands on the rivers it ought at once to be rescinded. Extracts from the Evidence of THOMAS ANDERSON, of Point Levi. During the whole of my explorations for gold the best indications I met with, and encouragement to work at mining, were on the Metgerraette. Here I saw the most general indications, as also up a little stream, the Trout stream which I think in in Jersey. There is a fall a little distance up. You met there with the best results ? ( ^ Yes, with the most general indications. In 1851, 1 came out of the woods and struck the hoad of the Gilbert in Cranbourae, where I found Dr. Douglas and partners working. He had a man named Cunningham, superintending the works there, about 119 sh has not from MO ig per ton. ind, this is I pyrites is king have in adopted month, it lintcnance , with the jtralia, the 1, and the 6 to Lake report the avernment stry before ;ive every to initiate imigration noting the st of small line of real fact of the imend that that the le DeLery the rivers Uevi. met with, V the most hink in in (roods and id partners lere, about THOMAS ANDERSON- (Con^inuce/.) three miles lower than where the parties are working now. The last limo I was on the Gilbert in September, 1863, I found a piece of quartz, which I chipped off, containing; a piece of gold visible to the naked eye ; I gave it to Mr. Parker. Tlie examiiititions or explorations you speak of were made with a view specially to the discovery of gold ? Yes. Did you liud it goiierully throughout that section ? Yes ; not coiiliiied to the streams alone, but extending also to the surrounding laud, in the hill us well as in the valleys, but of course that lound in the high lands is 01 a fine description. Did you lindany quartz lodes or veins? 1 found two (piarl/, lodes on the LaPlante, in the seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudreuil tu a part of the DeLery property, one immediately above the lirst Fall of the river, ami gold bearing. fjuartz on the Famine, immediately above the grand fall. I also found it above tiie Abenaciuis, about six miles up.and on the Metgermette. I found it 111 the Porlagc Uivcr and across the bed o( the Du Loup ; there are several veins of •iiiartz. Quartz miniii;j: has not been carried onto any extent, but I think it would give better results than mining in the alluvial deposits. Have you had an opportunity of ascertaining the result of the work so (ar as it has proceeded in those new holds ? No : except in my own particular case, I have, in exploring frequently got <»ufficicnt gold to pay liandsome wages. rOxlracts from the Evidence of JAiVIES BAILY, of Qiicboc* Taking into account your experience in Australia, how would yon estimate the gold fields here, as to richness, as compared with the Australian gold fields? I am acquainted with many mining localities in Austtalia, and have work- il on at least 60 or 80 gullies, which did not turn out half as well as that s|)ot. oi the Gilbert, described by last witness ; it has paid much better as an average than many places, I have been at in Australia. Do you think the miners employed on the Gilbert last season, did well, as a general rule as the same number would have done in Australia ? I think they did better. How does the country here compare with Australia as to formations, geological, and other formation and general appearance ? I am ignorant of geology, but as to the direction in which the reefs lie, and the other mining appearances, they are much the same in both countries. Which is best off", with respect to water power ] Canada. Much better off"? Yes, there is no comparison, at all, t mined in or three places in Australia, at whicl), if I had had water power, I could have made a fortune in a few mouths. 120 Extract from Evidence of LOUIS BARBEAU, of St. Friiiicis, 0. E. Mining is carried o.i in winter, as well as in summer, and, indeed better, in the former, the Government Inspector ought to be on'the Gilbert in winter as well as in summer. There is a certain number working on the Gilbert now. and I think the number will increase every winter, as the results of this winter'.s operations will give encouragement. It is much easier to mine in winter when you are. not troubled with the rain, or water coming in, and can work every day more comfortable, than in the other season, men can work continually, day and night ; as they h ive to use candle light, in both times ; and the hours working make no difference. I took a lot a hundred feet square, on the Gilbert, with the Poulins, the partnership numbering four, and after an outlay of twenty-five dollars for my share, I obtained as the result, O.V the working of the mine four hundred dollars ; my portion of the property Parties continually sell gold on the spot, and I have sold mine generally for eighteen dollars an ounce. I live quite close to the Devil'.s Rapids, in tlio parish of St. Francois, and know the vein of quartz found there, and mentione ' by other witnesses. I saw a piece of quartz taken therefrom containing as much gold as the quartz. I saw one piece of quartz taken out, and after beini^' a.ssayed, it produced fifteen dollars in gold, and thirty-two dollars in silver. There was no visible gold in it though it assayed fifteen dollars. In answer to Mr. Taschereau — The DeLery letters patent, have been the means of attracting parties to the Chaudidre country, and of the discovery of the gold mines there, to the benefit of the country. hi^ Extract from the evidence of JOHN O'FARRELL, Esquire, Advocate, Quebec. What in your opinion is a floatable river ? If by a floatable river is meant the Riviere FlottMe of the French writers, I am of opinion that a river to hefottahle must be susceptible of floating at all seasons, at the point in reference, to which the ((uestion arises, and from thence down to the sea, for such craft as the Bateaux, which navigated the Seine at Paris, prior to the conquest. Has there been ary legal decision, settling the points in Lower Canada, as to the rights of riparian proprietors. There have been such decisions, the highest is that of the Seigniorial Court, declaring that the proprietors of the River Banks, are also proprietors of the non navigable and non floatable rivers, and of the underlying beds, of such rivers, front- ing on their properties. Another solemn decision on the point is to be found reported in Vol. 10 L. C, Meports p. 294, where the Jacques Cartier, a powerful River, is declared to be non navigable and non jloatnhle. (See page 13.) W^i ii 121 or, in the ,'ell as in think the will give bled with , than in ve to use took a lot Limbering he result, property generally ho parish by other !h gold as produced le gold in ies to the efit of the A P P E IST^ D I X Jnebec. ers, I am asons, at vn to the ior to the as to the il Court, the non front - reported liver, is MEMORANDUM. As mvch enquiry and discussion has heretofn-e talrn place relative to what is knmvn as "■ The DeLerv Patent," it has been deemed but just to all parties interested, to annex a Copy of said Patent to the Evidence of the Committee ; together toith copies of correspondence shaving ivhat action has so far been taken by the Government in the matter, in so far as the Committee have had the means of ascertaining, as follows : — « Cathcart." province OF CANADA. " Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great " Britain and Ireland, Queen, defender of the Faith." " To all to whom these Presents shall come or to whom " the same may concern." — Greeting. " Whereas, our loving subjects, Dame Miirie Juscphte Fra- ser, of our City of Quebec, in our Province of Ciuiada, Widow ol the late Honorable Charles Etienne Chaussegros De Lery, in his lifetime also, of the same place. Esquire, Charles Joseph Chausse- gros DeLery, also of the same place Esquire, and Alexander Rene Chaussegros De Lery, also of the same place, Esquire, have humbly represented unto us by their petition, in that behalf, that they are Seigniors and proprietors of the Fief and Seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudreuil, situate in our district of Quebec, in our said Province, and described lying and being as follows, that is to say : " An extent of ground three leagues in Iront, by two leagues in depth, on both sides of the river of the Chaudiere Falls, with the Lakes and Islands, in the said River and that the re :iro supposed to exist within the limits of the said Fief and Seigniory, certain ores, minerals and nfifics, conXainmg gold and other preci»>iis metals, of which supposed mines, they lu ve made the discovery, and arc now desiroiisofdigging and working for their own profit, and advantage, should they obtain our [loyal Per- mission to the effect, and further that in obedience to the conditions of the original deed of concession of the said Fief and Seigniory to Sieur Pierre Rigaud de Vaud- veiul, dated at Quebec, the twenty-third day of September, c^e thousand seven lum- dred and thirty -six, aim signed Beauharnois and llocquart, and conlirnied at Versailles on the thirtieth day of April then following, by His most Christian Mujesty Lewis the Fifteenth, they did denounce and declnre to us for the expression of our Royal Will and Pleasure, the existence of thv said mines, within the limits of the said Fief and Seigniory, at several j)!;iees therein of which they will better inform us after further researches under our s id Royal Permission, which they humbly pray us to grant in conformity with the laws and usages in force nnd applying in that behalf, so that they may search, dig for, and work tlie said mines by themselves or by other experienced per- sons, offering to pay us the net oi/e-tenfh part of the whole produce of the said mines, and praying also to be allowed a remission of the said one-tenth part for a limited time, after the melting ofthe said ores shall be inoperation, to compensate them for the first outlay required. Therefore, now know ye, that in consideration ofthe Premises, We, of our especial Grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, have given and granted, Leiters Palunt in /avor of Dame Marie Joseplile Fraser and others, lor Exploring Minos in 5*ei- guiory ol Rignull-Vau- dreuil. Recorded in ilie Ite- gistrar olHce, of (liii Re- cords at Montreal, the ISth day of aeptemlwr, 1S4C, in the nineiejnth. Register of Commis- sions and Leiters Patent, folio 253. "Sigd. R. A. TlXMiEI!, " Registrar. *' i! ll'- 122 and by these presents do give and grant unto the said Dame Marie Josephte Fraser, Charles Joseph Chaussegross DeLery, Alexander Ren6 Chaiissegross DeLery, their heirs and assignes for ever, Our Royal Permission and authority to make such researches, in order further to ascertain theposition and extent of said mines, and to dig and work the same by themselves or by other experienced persons at any one or more places within the limits of the said Fief and Seigniory, and for that purpose to erect furnaces, buildings, and other apparatus, that may be required to melt and ren- der available for profit and advantage of themselves, and of their heirs and assigns, all such ores and minerals which they may have found, the whole in as ample man- ner as may be necessary for the due effect of these presents, the whole on condition that our said grantees, their heirs nnd assigns for ever shall strictly conform to our laws and usages in force and applying in that behalf, that they shall well and truly repay to other our loving subjects, such damages, and compensation as may from time to time occur, in consequence of the ground occupied, the opening of roads, and other like causes, resulting from the operations in working the said mines. " And also upon condition, that before working the same they do transmit, and deposit with our Secretary of said Province, a true and correct statement, of the nature, situation and extent of the said ores, minerals and mines. And further upon condition of transmitting in each and every year, to our Receiver General for our said Province, a Irue and correct account of the gross produce, of the same in such form and manner, as we, Our Heirs and Successors may be hereafter be pleased to direct, and also upon condition of well and truly paying, and delivering in such and every year frrm the time of melting the said ores, for the first time in working furnaces, into our Receiver General or such other person as may have authority from us, our heirs and successors, one Net tenth jiart of the whale, gross produce of the said ores, minerals and substances, thereunto appertaining whatever, the said one tenth parth being melt«d and prepared in the same manner as the like, may be for the behoof of our said grantees, and refined according to the Laws of France, as con- firmed by the Edict, of the late, his Most Christian Majesty, of the month of June, one thousand six hundred and one. And it is further our Will and pleasure that our said grantees have a remission of the said one tenth part for five years from and afler the date of these presents. " In Testimony Whereof, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent, and the Great Seal of Our said Province to be hereunto affixed : Witness, Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Cousin Lieutenant-General the Right Honorable Charles Murray, Earl Cythcart, of Cathcart, in the County of Renfrew, K. C. B., Governor General of British North America, and Captain General in Chief, in and over the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Island of Prince Edward, and Vice-Admiral of the same, and Commander of Our Forces in British North America. At Montreal y in Our said Province of Canada, tlie Eighteenth day of September, in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and furty-six, and in the Tenth year of Our Reign. ^ " By Command. " (Signed,) D. DALY, Secretary. M- " Provincial Registrar's Office, « Quebec, ith May, 1864. " I do hereby crrtify the foregoing to be a true and faithfid copy of the Record of the original Letters Patent. "(Signed,) WM. KENT, " Deputy Registrar of the Province." 123 Sir, Secretary's Office, Montreal, 20th July, 1847. I have had the honor to receive and to lay before the Governor General, your letter of the 16th instant, transmitting a printed copy of a report or remarks on the mineralogical character of the Seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudreuil, in the County of Dorchester, by J. P. Cunningham, Esquire, and containing a statement of the nature, situation and extent of the ores, minerals and mines supposed to exist, containing gold and other precious metals within the limits of the said Seigniory, in conformity with the terms and conditions of the Letters Patent, bearing date the 18th September, 184i6, for exploring the said ores, minerals and mines. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, D. DALY, . Secretary. Chs. DeLery, Esquire, Scc.f Sec, kc. [Copy.] Department of Crown Lands, Jesuits^ Estates and Crown Domain Branch, Quebec, 4th August, 1864. Sir, I have the honor to direct your attention to the 33rd and 34th Sections of the Act 27th and 28th Victoria, chapter 9, intituled : « An Act re-pfcting Gold Mines," Letters Patent, with reference to mines of gold, having been grunted on ihe 18th. September, 1846, to the owners of the Seigniory of Elvuiul-A audreuil, ol which it appears you are now sole proprietor. I have the honor to be, &c., &c., &c., (Signed,) Alexandre Chaussegros DeLery, Esquire, &c., &c., &c., Ste. Marie or St. Francois, Beauce. A. CAMPBELL, Cimniissio7ier. [Copy.] Sir, Department of Crown Lands, Jesuits' Estates and Crown Domain Branch, Quebec, 12th September, 1864. As you have failed to supply the returns and make the payments required by the Act enclosed in my letter of the 4th ultimo, for the territory mentioned in the Letters Patent referred to in said letter, I am again under the necessity of directing your attention to the matter, in the hope that, by an immediate compliance on your 124 part with the requirements of the law, ihe enforcing of the same by the adoption of ;proceedings to exact the penalties provided in case of neglect, may be obviated. You will receive no further notification from i he Department. I have the honor to be, &.C., Sec, Sec, (Signed,) A. CAMPBELL, Commr. of Cr. Lds. -Alexr. Chaussegros DeLery, Esquire, &e.. Sec, &c., Ste. Marie or St. Francois, Beauce. 5 [Translation.] Quebec, 5th October, 1864. Sir, In answer to yoiu- letters, asking from Mr. DeLery a statement of the quantity of gold found by him in the Seigniory Rigaud-Vaudreuil, before the passing of the Act 27 and 28 Vic. c. 9, in virtue of the 33rd clause of the said Act, we are authorized by Mr. DeLery to answer that he never either worked himself or caused to be worked any gold mines in the said seigniory by virtue of the letters patent that he has from the Crown, and that therefore it is impossible for him to comply with your demand. For some -"ears past Doctor Douglass, of Beauport, has held ths right of working the said gold rnlnos, in virtue of a lease granted him by Mr. DeLery. Immediately after the passing of the Act 27 and 28 Vic. c. 9., Mr. DeLery, by protest before Notaries, notified Dr. Douglass to conform himself to the section 33 of the said Act, as regards Uhe government. Mr. DeLery is not aware whether Doctor Douglass did so. Mr. DeLery has also directed us to inform you, that he did not think himself in all cases obliged to conform to the section 33, of the said Act, in rendering to govern- ment the statements ordered by the said section, since the spirit of the law waste aid the government in collecting what might be due to it under certain letters patent, and that Mr. DeLery, neither by himself nor by others, has ever worked the gold mines in the limits prescribed by the said Letters Patent m such a manner as to owe the government any sums whatever. We remain, &-c., kc (Signed,) TACHEREAU The Honorable A. Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Lands. k BLANCHET. Attorneys. [Copy.] Department of Crown Lands, Jesuits' Estates and Croion Domain Bra?ich, Quebec, 24-th October, 1864. Sm, J have the honor to submit the following case for your opinion, viz : On the 14th September, 1846, upon petition of the then Seigniors of the Seigniory of Bigaud-Vaudreuil (herewith,) that according to the laws of France they were entitled to a preference to work certain mines of gold and other precious metals in the said Seigniory, Letters Patent (copy also herewith) issued in their favor, granting such right to them, their heirs and assigns for ever, subject to certain conditions, expressed in said Letters Patent, and among others, to the payment of a Royalty of 10 per cent, on the whole gross produce of the ores, from the time of melting (smelting) the said ores for the first time in working furnaces. 125 as lo owe By the 33rd and 34th Section of an Act of the Provincial Parliament, 27 and 28- Vict., cap. . , intituled : " The Gold Mining Act," iiersons who have mined for gold under Letters Patent are held to furnish accounts, and pay over amounts due to the Crown under a penalty. Considerable mining operations have taken place in the .Seigniory above men- tioned since the issue of the Patent, more particularly during last year and th« present one, when large sums of money have been taken out in alluvial diggings. The Department having been informed that Mr. Alexandre Chaussegros DcLcry is now the sole owner of the said Seigniory, on the 21st August and 12th September last, called his attention by letters to the clauses of the Act above referred to, requiring him to furnish the returns and pay over the Royalty to the Crown, in reply to which, Mr. DeLery pe)' attorney states : 1st. That on the 9lh September last, he leased his rights under the Patent for 30 years to a Mr. Trucman Coman. 2nd. That he has never worked the gold mines in the said Seigniory, by himself or others, and cannot therefore conform to the request of the Government. That Dr. Douglas, since some years, possessed the right to said mines xuuler a lease from him, Mr. DeLery, (doubtless that to be found in liasse 41'/53 herewith) and that he has notified Dr. Douglas to conform to the law. Further that in any case he does not deem himself obliged to furnish the returns required by the 33rd Section of the Act, as he has never by himself or others, worked the said mines under the prescribed terms, {limites prescrites) of the Patent, so as to have become indebted to the Crown in any sum whatever, referring no doubt, to the smelting operation alluded to in the patent. Up to last year, exclusively, what little iiiining was done, appears to have been conducted by Dr. Douglas, but during the last two seasons, by the proprietors of the soil, or parties holding under them, with the exception of some slight operations by other parties holding under a sub-lease from Dr. Douglas. The smelting fuvnaces referred to in the Patent, and then supposed to be the method by which the metal would be extracted, have never been, and probably never will be used, as the present system in use elsewhere is to crush the quartz and collect the gold by amalgamation with mercury. Moreover the only mines which have been worked up till now in the Seigniory are alluvial ones. If Mr. DeLery, or his assignees, can evade the payment of the Royalty, for both or either of the above reasons, the Crown will find itself deprived of any return whatever from these mines, in e\ ^ry place where other parties than they may work, for the existence of tlie Patent precludes the exaction of license fees under " The Gold Mining Act," and in that case the propriety would suggest itself of the govern- ment taking legal steps to obtain the cancellation of the Patent, cither on the ground of improvidence, should you be of opinion that Mr. DeLery had no j)referential right in law to obtain it, or for such other reasons as you may consider available. I would therefore thank you for your opinion, — fiirstly, on the liability of the Patentees and Assignees, — secondly, whether the government is held to recognize the latter, and, thirdly, if the liability ol one or the other does not exist under the circum- stances and the CroAvn has no means of enforcing its rightful and e([uitable claim, whether some and what steps ought to be taken by the government to obtain a can- cellation of the patent. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, The Honorable The Attorney General, for Lower Canada, &c., &c.; &c> (Signed,) A. CAMPBELL, Commissioner of Crown Lands, 126 ;[Copy.] :Sir, Department of Crown Lands, Jesuits^ Estate and Crotvn Domain Branch, Quebec, 9th November, 1864. I would beg to call your attention to rny letter of the 24th ultimo, having refer- ence to the DeLery Patent case. Nearly all the mining operations of the past and present season have been carried on exclusively in the Seigniory of Rigaud-Vaudreuil, the Crown liaving only received for license fees elsewhere some ^66, while it is reported that about $30, 000 where taken out in the Seigniory in question last season and at least .$100,000 during the present one, the Crow^n Royalty on which alone, without reference to ,previous operations, under the Patent, reaches $15,000, of which no part whatever has been received. As the public revenue suffers from the Crown being deprived of these, its just ^rights, it is most desirable that something should be done towards securing these Tights, as well for the past as for the future, and I have therefore the honor to request you to be so good as to give the matter as early an attention as you conveniently can, with a view to suggest some means to arrive at the object sought by the Depart- ment, viz : the collection of all arrears and future payment of the Royalty. * I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, The Honorable The Attorney General, for Lower Canada, &c., Sec, Sec. (Signed,) A. CAMPBELL, Commissioner of Crown Lands. ERRATA. On page 7 the amount of Land Sales in the Chaudidre and St. Francis Divisions is stated as 219,900 acres, whereas it should be 289,488 acres. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE. Report, ---_ ^ Extract from Laav Reports, ----.-... J3 Evidence of — MM. Herbert Williams, - - - -- . . --13 John Macrae, _. j^ Andrew Dale, 16 William Abbott, -----_... n Andrew Smith, ig John Brack, -----.._._ 21 Thomas Sinjohn, 23 Pierre Patry, ----- 25 A. A. Adams, ---------- 26 Alexander DeLery, ---.-.-. 27 Edward Lyon, -------...31 John G'reacen, --------__ 3g Truman Coman, 41 Charles L. DeBellefeuille, ------- 44, George A. Brock, ---------.52 John Lindsay, -------... 55 Geo. H. Ryland, ------.. ..58 John Kelly, ------.... gi O. A. Russell, ------_. ..§5 Edmund B. Hood, -------__ gg S. J. Dawson, -----.----70 Arthur Rankin, -. 37 S. L. French, -- -.-.-..94 H. B. Ward, --------_. 97 F. T. Judah, -------.,. 104 Joseph Rigg, ----..-.-. 112 Dr. Reed, - - - - - - - - - - -113 Michael Cahill, ---._-.._ 117 Thomas Glover, -------.__« Thomas Anderson, --------- ng James Baily, - - - - - - - - _ -119 Louis Barbeau, -.--..._. 120 John O'Farrell, ---------_<« Appendix, — DeLery Patent, &c 121 ^1^ <|VBBI2€: PRINTED FOR TH£ CONTRACtORS BY GEORGE E. DESBARATS. 1865.